Steven R. Altman
President, Qualcomm
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In 1999, Qualcomm's licensee base began to include an increasing number of WCDMA licensees as GSM operators began their transition to 3G CDMA. In 1999-2002, Altman worked with WCDMA equipment providers on a global basis, extending existing agreements to include WCDMA. These agreements successfully confirmed that Qualcomm holds patents essential for all CDMA standards, including WCDMA. Today, every major manufacturer of 3G CDMA products and equipment is a Qualcomm licensee, including licenses with approximately 60 manufacturers covering WCDMA/TD-SCDMA.
Altman began his career with the San Diego law firm of Gray, Cary, Ware & Freidenrich, where he specialized in intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and general corporate matters. He joined Qualcomm in 1989 as corporate counsel with responsibility for licensing and contracts, quickly moving up through the management ranks and becoming vice president and general counsel in 1992. He became general manager of QTL when that organization was formed in 1995; and senior vice president in 1996. In 1998, Altman was named executive vice president; and president of QTL in 2000.
Altman graduated magna cum laude Northern Arizona University in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice; he received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1986, graduating cum laude. Altman serves on the Board of Directors at Amylin Pharmaceuticals on their Compensation and Human Resources Committee. He also serves on the Board of Athletics at the University of California-San Diego. He is a board member of the Salk Institute. A former board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), he remains an active supporter of the JDRF and numerous other charitable causes.
