Qualcomm's pdQ Smartphone Enters Commercial Service with Bell Mobility of Canada
SAN DIEGO -- February 7, 2000 -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced that the Qualcomm pdQ™ smartphone is now available in Canada from Bell Mobility. Qualcomm's new pdQ smartphone is the only smartphone to offer the Palm Computing® platform and support full-time access to the Internet based on standard Internet protocols, making it the ideal device for a broad variety of business and consumer uses.
"Qualcomm is proud to partner with Bell Mobility on its commercial launch of the pdQ smartphone," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, president of Qualcomm Consumer Products. "In addition to wireless access to the Internet, the pdQ smartphone allows business users and consumers to benefit from the more than 1,000 existing enterprise applications written for the Palm Computing platform, including enterprise information management, contacts, scheduling and groupware, communications, and business and personal productivity applications."
"Bell Mobility is ushering in a new era of integrated wireless voice and data services," said Charlotte Burke, vice president, services development, Bell Mobility. "The pdQ smartphone provides businesses and consumers with the ability not only to make voice calls, but also to track appointments, catalog contact information, send and receive email, surf the Internet, and receive text messages - all from one device."
Qualcomm's pdQ smartphone includes three new Qualcomm developed applications: Short Messaging Service (SMS) alert management, email and web browsing. Weighing in at approximately 229 grams, the pdQ smartphone features a flip down keypad for easy call dialing and a large 160-by-240 pixel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) touch screen for the display of information and data entry. Through the convergence of wireless voice and data, the pdQ smartphone allows users to dial a number automatically by simply tapping on a contact name in their address book with the stylus. Data is input via Graffiti® power writing software developed by Palm Computing.
The pdQ smartphone ships with a charging/synchronization cradle, lithium ion battery and a headset that enables users to talk on the phone while simultaneously using the PDA portion of the unit.
Effective today, Canadians can purchase the Qualcomm pdQ smartphone at Bell World stores in Ontario, Espace Bell stores in Québec and participating retailers of Bell Mobility products in both provinces. Additionally, the pdQ smartphone is available for purchase on-line at Bell Mobility's virtual store at www.bellmobility.ca.
The Qualcomm pdQ smartphone is a product of Qualcomm Consumer Products, the Company's terrestrial-based consumer phone business, which is being sold to KYOCERA Corporation as previously announced.
The Bell Mobility Inc. family of companies provides a complete range of wireless communications solutions -- cellular, paging, data, satellite, PCS and airline passenger communications services -- to over 2.5 million Canadian customers. Bell Mobility Radio provides two-way voice and wireless data services to public safety and emergency services agencies. Bell Mobility Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bell Canada.
Qualcomm Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company's CDMA digital technology. The Company's business areas include integrated CDMA chipsets and system software; technology licensing; Eudora® e-mail software for Windows® and Macintosh® computing platforms; and satellite-based systems including OmniTRACS® and portions of the Globalstar™ system. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in theS&P500 Index and is a 1999 FORTUNE 500® company traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol QCOM.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including timely product development, the Company's ability to successfully manufacture significant quantities of CDMA or other equipment on a timely and profitable basis, and those related to performance guarantees, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 26, 1999, and most recent Form 10-Q.
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