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

To: Jon Koplik who wrote (19688)	12/14/1998 9:22:00 AM
From: DaveMG	Respond to of 152472

Qualcomm's pdQ to lead a flurry of wireless handheld devices that will greet the new year zdnet.com By Darren Gladstone, PC Week Online December 14, 1998 9:00 AM ET The race to offer handheld devices equipped with wireless communications is heating up. Qualcomm Inc. is gearing up for a late first-quarter release of its new pdQ wireless handheld device, a hybrid cellular phone/PalmPilot, officials said. The news follows 3Com Corp.'s recent announcement of the Palm VII, the latest iteration of the company's PalmPilot handheld device that comes with a two-way wireless radio. That device is scheduled to be released later next year. While 3Com's Palm VII announcement may have stolen some thunder from the pdQ, Paul Jacobs, president of Qualcomm's Consumers Products Group, in San Diego, said there are enough differences between the two products to prevent the pdQ from being overlooked. In fact, they could "actually be complementary," Jacobs said. The pdQ is designed to provide two interdependent tools in one device. When a user dials a phone number, the pdQ will automatically display the person's contact information. With a tap on the screen, the caller can then switch to e-mail to jot down a quick message instead. Users will also be able to browse the Web at approximately 13.2K bps via a wireless Code Division Multiple Access transmission. For its part, the Palm VII is focused on a distinct market. With it, users will be able to wirelessly access data and e-mail from specific Palm VII-partnered Web sites via a query search applet over the Palm.Net service. 3Com partnered with BellSouth Corp. to establish Palm.Net. Qualcomm's pdQ team is evaluating incorporating the search technology built into the Palm VII, known as Web-clipping technology. This could allow for the 24-plus partner sites to share data with Qualcomm's device and provide quicker access to basic data searches. One issue posing a potential problem for the pdQ is software that is coded specifically to the Palm hardware. Since there will be inherent differences between the design of the two units, potential interoperability issues need to be resolved, according to Jacobs. The ultimate goal will be total compatibility with Palm OS, and if feasible, the Palm VII as well. All that said, the high price of these devices continues to be a major obstacle in this fledgling market. In fact, there are no signs of such all-in-one devices dropping below $500. The final price for the pdQ has not been firmed up, but estimates vary between $500 and $1,000, depending on the carrier. Similarly, the Palm VII is expected to fall in the $800 price range plus $10 a month for a standard Web-access package. In addition to these two devices, several other mobile Internet-access options have appeared in the past few months. The Nokia 9000i Communicator smart phone, from Nokia Mobile Phones, of Espoo, Finland, one of the first successful such efforts, is now being sold directly off the Web for $699 and could be successful at keeping the pdQ at bay. The unit transfers data via Global System for Mobile communications at 9.6K bps, and since pricing varies by carrier, it could be cost-prohibitive to many. Windows CE devices, on the other hand, are more reliant on third-party developer solutions for wireless connections via the PC Card interface. This means extra costs and installation downtime in addition to the cost of a CE device. One exception is Novatel Inc.'s Novatel Wireless Contact, which combines a Handheld PC Windows CE device with a built-in Cellular Digital Packet Data modem (which transfers data at 19.2K bps) for $1,000. Palm users also have an option with Novatel's Minstrel Plus Wireless IP Modem for $399. Still, both of the Calgary, Alberta, company's solutions require a wireless IP account that can cost anywhere from $15 to $65 a month. Qualcomm can be reached at (619) 587-1121 or www.qualcomm.com. 3Com is at (408) 326-5000 or www.3com.com.

To: Jon Koplik who wrote (19688)	12/14/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: Jon Koplik	Respond to of 152472

On CNBC's RF Micro Devices interview - no mention of Qualcomm (as ususal), but a little bit of talk about CDMA. Jon.