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

To: Ramus who wrote (20586)	12/30/1998 4:03:00 PM
From: bananawind	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

To all, Acer (recent Q licensee) to make pdQ-like devices. [would they have signed a Q license if the IPR for 3G was not required?] Acer, Inventec to Make Products with PC/Telecom Functions December 30, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- Acer Peripherals Inc. and Inventec Corp. are exploring the global trend toward products with integrated personal computer and telecommunications functions. Acer Peripherals has invested NT$675 million to develop a new product with Internet, electronic mail, digital transmission and mobile telecommunications functions. Acer executives said the new product will adopt third-generation mobile phone technology to guarantee security and transmission quality. Currently, only Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia, San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. and Korea's LG Electronics are capable of producing such products. To obtain part of the needed technology, Acer will pay NT$287 million in royalties. The product is expected to make its debut in the year 2000. Inventec Corp., the major original equipment manufacturer for Compaq Computer Corp., is also pouring NT$500-600 million into the development of a product that combines the functions of personal digital assistant (PDA) and mobile phone. The company's aggressive expansion also includes the production of business computers, workstations and servers. Inventec's President, S.C. Lee, said his company is convinced the combination of information and telecommunications technologies will be the ultimate trend of the market. "Consumers are looking for computers and mobile phones that are smaller in size and easier to use," Lee said. He added that Inventec's strength in the production of notebook PCs and calculators will be an asset in the development of the "product of the future." Acer Peripherals has been approved for an NT$100 million R&D subsidy and a NT$100 million zero-interest loan from the government for its new product, while Inventec is currently applying for the government subsidy. (Commercial Times, Taiwan)

To: Ramus who wrote (20586)	12/30/1998 4:09:00 PM
From: bananawind	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

To all, More on the Hong Kong GSM/cdmaOne price war... Price War Starts as Hong Kong Debuts Portable Phone Numbers December 30, 1998 (HONG KONG) -- Hutchison Telecommunications Ltd. is ringing in the new year with a bang: with 1999 around the corner, it is reducing its mobile phone charges by 83 percent. The move, announced on Dec. 18, is seen as an initiative to prevent a massive loss of its customers in March 1999, when Hong Kong introduces mobile number portability (MNP) technology. With MNP, mobile phone subscribers can retain their assigned phone numbers when they switch from one operator to another. The need to change phone number has been considered a major obstacle for people who wish to change mobile phone operators. Therefore, the introduction of MNP is expected to start off a new round of fierce competition among mobile phone operators, especially those with higher charges. Hutchison is the second-largest mobile phone operator in Hong Kong, where six operators are sharing a total of 2.6 million customers. Four different mobile phone systems are currently available: GSM (global system for mobile communications), PCS (personal communications services), CDMA (code division multiple access) and D-AMPS (Digital-Advance Mobile Phone Service). The majority of mobile phone users subscribe to GSM service, as its networks are considered better developed. But in the past year, PCS services have been gaining ground, with subscribers almost tripling from 241,000 at the end of 1997 to 650,000 by October 1998. Many GSM customers have been attracted to PCS because of lower charges and the attractive packages put together by the major PCS operators. The price cut taken by Hutchison has also effectively eliminated the price differences between its GSM and PCS services. This is seen as a measure to discourage its GSM customers from switching to PCS service. Other mobile phone operators are reacting to Hutchison's price cut with caution. SmarTone Mobile Communications Ltd. lowered the price of its basic GSM plan to a level comparable to Hutchison's. New World PCS Ltd. reacted by offering lower charges to some new customers. Hong Kong Telecom-CSL, the market leader, is expected to follow suit. Since October 1998, mobile phone operators with both GSM and PCS licenses have been allowed to operate dual-band services. As dual-band customers (who must use a dual-band handset) can enjoy the coverage of both GSM and PCS networks, the reception quality is generally better. Both Hutchison and Smartone have launched dual-band services and encourage their customers to switch to dual-band by charging the same GSM tariffs and offering other incentives. It is hoped that the better reception quality of dual-band service can also help retain customers when MNP is introduced next year. Table 1 Mobile Phone Operators in Hong Kong Operator System/s used Hong Kong Telecom-CSL GSM, PCS, D-AMPS Hutchison GSM, PCS, CDMA New World PCS Peoples PCS Smartone GSM, PCS Sunday PCS Table 2 Mobile Phone Subscribers in Hong Kong Year Subscribers 1987 28,060 1988 51,280 1989 89,193 1990 133,912 1991 189,664 1992 233,324 1933 290,843 1994 431,775 1995 687,600 1996 1,210,680 1997 2,085,600 1998* 2,639,466 Notes: *Jan-Oct. Source: Telecommunications Authority. (Keith Chan, Asia BizTech Hong Kong Editor)

To: Ramus who wrote (20586)	12/30/1998 5:38:00 PM
From: JMD	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Walt, while some have questioned whether the posts were from the 'real' George Gilder, it is quite obvious to subscribers and visitors to the Gilder SI thread that they are indeed authentic. GG has been on the QCOM/CDMA bandwagon for many moons. In fact I originally stumbled on to the Mighty Q when I read his account of visiting with the Ericy dudes and encountering, at best, a 'not invented here' response re: CDMA. When I then learned that they were in litigation with this little San Diego outfit claiming the opposite, it was just too intriguing to pass up. I think he's a really terrific guy who has helped non-engineers get some grip on whatsup with all this stuff and appreciate his direct posts [as well as yours] greatly. Thanks to the both of you. Sadly, the opposite is true with respect to the authenticity of your recent whale sighting. Turns out I was surfing yesterday in your vicinity. Better luck next time. Mike Doyle

To: Ramus who wrote (20586)	12/30/1998 6:16:00 PM
From: Drew Williams	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

* Extremely Off-Topic * While we are commenting on things that astound, we had quite a theatrical moment last week at our church's Christmas eve service. Some of you know I am not a particularly religious person, indeed am usually quite sarcastic about such things, so it came as quite a surprise to me. In the middle of all the usual liturgy, the choir started to sing Silent Night, and a woman stood in front of us and signed the song. We all joined in and sang it a second time. Lights started going out, one by one, until the only light in the whole church was on the woman. We finished, the organ and choir went silent, as did the entire congregation. Even the babies stopped crying as she silently signed the whole thing over again, each of us hearing the music in our hearts. If it had not been halfway through a mass there would have been applause.