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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: marginmike who wrote (18083)	11/10/1998 9:50:00 AM
From: JGoren	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Regardless of my bias towards Qcom, I do think that the handset sales are based on the superficial specs and what the sales person hawks. If you stand for awhile in a cell phone store, the salesman tends to push the lower cost product and specs; they won't go into the details; they want to make a quick sale and get on to the next customer. I would love to know the Sprint sales numbers on Samsung vs. Qualcomm; I bet they sell the Samsung at least 3 to 1 over the Qualcomm phone and the Sony sells a lot more than the Qualcomm. I don't think quality is that much of a factor. Indeed, I once mentioned that the Qualcomm phone was a better phone, and the sales guy's reply was that the Samsung has a better connection rate (someone on the thread said because Samsung turns up the power). I do agree that Q needs to make some advances that distinguish its phones in the marketplace.

To: marginmike who wrote (18083)	11/10/1998 10:03:00 AM
From: Clarksterh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

I just feel handset business should perform, or be gotten rid of. First I should point out that even if Motorola provides a phone with longer times for less weight (and I agree that the specs do indicate that), that is no guarantee that Qualcomm can't still make money at handsets targeted at a different market (e.g. price point or data capabilities). Second, I would like to point out that Motorola has been promising 'Our phones will be available in the next Q or two' for the last two years. The new Startac is promised for this quarter, but at this point I'm inclined to believe it only when I see it. Finally, there are occassions when a particular division doesn't make much money, but it is still important to the overall company for a variety of reasons. For instance, although making commercial satellites is not a money maker, companies do it because it allows them to get into money making markets they would not otherwise be able to get into (e.g. government projects and DirecTV). For Qualcomm, as system designers and ASIC vendors, it is probably good to have extensive experience in handset design and manufacture. Clark

To: marginmike who wrote (18083)	11/10/1998 10:29:00 AM
From: waitwatchwander	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 152472

You should also consider that the QPC line has now been around for over a year. Isn't the current Q phone also of the same vintage? Qualcomm's phone business has had it's ups and downs and, over the last year, the overall CDMA phone business has advanced tremendously. In perspective, Motorola has figured it out, Asians are cranked, Dot is up and running and Lucent/Philips have packed it in! I would expect that the Qualcomm engineers have been as busy as beavers helping others get on board and ALSO working on some new "6160 type" designs. They've only just begun! If the current situation exists six months from now, I'd be more willing to entertain your feelings about the handset business. Patience is a virtue. Hopefully, not a foolish one. nj