Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) todayannounced it has submitted a letter to the International TelecommunicationsUnion (ITU) indicating that it holds essential Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) for several third-generation Radio Telecommunication Technology (RTT)proposals submitted for IMT-2000 based on Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) technology. In its letter, Qualcomm confirmed it is willing tolicense its IPR with respect to the cdma2000 proposal submitted by the U.S.Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) on a non-discriminatory basison reasonable terms and conditions in accordance with the ITU's patentpolicy. The letter also confirmed that Qualcomm is unwilling to similarlycommit to license its IPR for the W-CDMA RTT proposals submitted by theEuropean Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) called UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) and its three derivatives; for the W-CDMAproposal submitted by Japan's Association of Radio Industries andBusinesses (ARIB); for the CDMA II proposal submitted by Korea'sTelecommunications Technology Association (TTA); and for the W-CDMA/NAproposal submitted by the U.S. T1P1-Wireless Mobile Services and SystemsTechnical Subcommittee. In the letter, Qualcomm stated it will notify theITU of its IPR position with respect to the remaining candidate RTTproposals at a later time.
The ITU-R Task Group 8/1 is following a process to identify and recommendspecific standards for the IMT-2000 radio interface. To date, severalproposals have been submitted as candidates in accordance with thisestablished process. However, pursuant to a letter issued by the ITU-RDirector General on May 26, 1998, the ITU will not complete the process ofevaluating and selecting submitted proposals unless all essential IPRholders for those proposals either waive all rights to their IPR, or committo license their IPR on a non-discriminatory basis on reasonable terms andconditions in accordance with the ITU's patent policy. Patent policies areemployed by standards bodies to avoid spending time and resourcesevaluating proposals that lack a clear path to commercialization.
Qualcomm supports achieving a single, converged standard for all proposed3G CDMA technologies that have been submitted to the ITU for considerationas candidates for IMT-2000. In August, Qualcomm clearly presented thisposition in a letter to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute(ETSI). In the letter, Qualcomm stated it holds essential IPR to ETSI'sproposed RTT candidate submission and that Qualcomm would license its IPRonly on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms for standards meetinga set of technical criteria based on three fairness principles whichsupport convergence of all proposed 3G CDMA technologies. The fairnessprinciples are:
- A single, converged worldwide CDMA standard should be selected for 3G;
- The converged CDMA standard must accommodate equally the two dominantnetwork standards in use today (IS-41 and GSM-MAP); and
- Disputes on specific technological points should be resolved byselecting the proposal that either is demonstrably superior in terms ofperformance, features, or cost, or, in the case of alternatives with nodemonstrable material difference, the choice that is most compatible withexisting technology.
"Qualcomm believes that all parties can and should work together toward aconverged third-generation CDMA standard that treats existing investmentsfairly," said Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, chairman and CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated
Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm develops, manufactures,markets, licenses and operates advanced communications systems and productsbased on its proprietary digital wireless technologies. The Company'sprimary product areas are the OmniTRACS® system (a geostationarysatellite-based, mobile communications system providing two-way data and position reporting services), CDMA wireless communications systems andproducts and, in conjunction with others, the development of theGlobalstar™ low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications system. OtherCompany products include the Eudora Pro® electronic mail software, ASICproducts, 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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Qualcomm, OmniTRACS, Eudora and Eudora Pro are registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral Qualcomm Satellite Services, Incorporated.
