Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) announced today that it has sued Ericsson, Inc. for patent infringement based on recent public statements by Ericsson that it intends to offer Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) handsets for sale in the United States cellular market within a matter of months.
Qualcomm's lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Diego, charges Ericsson with infringement of seven Qualcomm patents which cover essential features of handsets that meet the specifications of the United States CDMA cellular telecommunications standard known as IS-95A or the standard for the new PCS wireless services known as ANSI J-STD-008.
Qualcomm holds patents essential to practice both standards and to the manufacture and sale of handsets for use in systems compatible with the standards.
An Ericsson company is a licensee under Qualcomm's patents for the manufacture of handsets for use in the Globalstar™ satellite communications system, but Ericsson has not been granted a license by Qualcomm for cellular, PCS or other terrestrial applications.
Headquartered in San Diego, Qualcomm develops, manufactures, markets, licenses and operates advanced communications systems and products based on its proprietary digital wireless technologies. The Company's primary product areas are the OmniTRACS® system (a geostationary satellite-based, mobile communications system providing two-way data and position reporting services), CDMA wireless communications systems and products and, in conjunction with others, the development of the Globalstar low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications system. Other Company products include the Eudora Pro electronic mail software, ASIC products, and communications equipment and systems for government and commercial customers worldwide. For more information on Qualcomm products and technologies, please visit the Company's web site at http://www.qualcomm.com.
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