Qualcomm's cellular IoT licensing program
For decades, Qualcomm has continuously invented, helped standardize, and commercialized foundational cellular technology and, as a result, has the world’s leading cellular IP portfolio. We share these innovations through licensing, and our IP portfolio is the most widely licensed in the industry.
Qualcomm has been licensing our cellular standard essential patents (SEPs) for decades across cellular handsets, connected laptops and tablets, connected vehicles, wearables, access points, as well as cellular modules going into IoT applications. Within IoT, we have been licensing for over 25 years.
The companies which make embedded modules that provide cellular functionality are experienced with cellular technology and the cellular SEP landscape. Many of these companies have been Qualcomm licensees for over a decade1 and if you make IoT products which use cellular-connected modules from one of these licensed suppliers, then you may continue to use these licensed modules and do not need to take a license from us directly. Therefore, many IoT companies are already covered.
To provide additional options, we are offering a simplified patent licensing program for IoT device manufacturers to take a direct license under Qualcomm’s cellular SEP portfolio. If your products use cellular-connected modules from a vendor that doesn’t already have a license with Qualcomm or you wish to be licensed directly from Qualcomm, then you are able to do so under this program.
Who does Qualcomm license under this program?
This program covers certain IoT products that get their connectivity from third-party supplied cellular modules that can be placed in a variety of end-user devices. It covers a number of current IoT device applications, like certain asset trackers, smart meters, payment terminals, and other industrial applications.2 This simplified program includes products that are capable of implementing CAT-M or CAT 1-4.3 If you are interested in licensing NB-IoT, CAT 1bis, LTE greater than CAT 4 or 5G, please connect with us below and we’ll be happy to guide you through that.
What does the license cost?
Under this program, per-device royalties are calculated as a percentage of the purchase price of the cellular module in the product, as follows:
*With appropriate minimums. Please contact us below for details.
What does the license include?
This program covers our worldwide portfolio of cellular standard-essential patents related to CAT-M, and LTE CAT 1-4.
1 Example module makers that have been licensees with Qualcomm covering these IoT technologies are Quectel, Telit, U-blox, Sierra Wireless, Fibocom, Wistron NeWeb, Sunsea, MeiG, Neoway, and Longsung. Check with your module vendor to confirm the latest licensing status.
2 The types of products included are subject to certain functionality restrictions. In addition, smartphones, connected cars, vehicular OBD-II devices, access points, tablets, laptops, and wearable devices are examples of products that are not covered.
3 "CAT-M" refers to products that are capable of implementing CAT-M without 3G, 5G, or any other LTE categories. "CAT 1-4" refers to products that are capable of implementing LTE CAT 1-4 without 5G or any category of LTE greater than CAT 4. This program does not include products that are only capable of implementing NB-IoT or CAT 1bis, or capable of implementing 5G or LTE greater than CAT 4.
How do I sign up for a license?
Contact us here to connect with a Qualcomm licensing representative.
