Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced the promotion of Marvin Blecker to president of Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL). Blecker, who had previously been general manager of QTL, succeeds Steven R. Altman, who had been QTL president and is now Qualcomm president-elect (see Qualcomm press release issued March 8, 2005). As QTL president, Blecker will oversee all activities pertaining to Qualcomm's CDMA intellectual property (IP) business, including negotiating and administering all CDMA IP license agreements.
“Marv is the logical choice for taking the reins at QTL,” said Steve Altman, Qualcomm president-elect. “As QTL general manager, he has been running the day-to-day operations of QTL for many years, as well as making significant strategic and operational contributions to the division which produced approximately $1.3 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2004. I have complete confidence in Marv and his team as they continue to manage this important part of the Company's business, ensuring excellent return for our shareholders on our patented technologies.”
Blecker began his career at Qualcomm in 1992 as vice president and general manager of CDMA program management and marketing, where he participated on the team that negotiated the first three South Korean license agreements with Samsung, Hyundai and LG. In 1993, he was promoted to senior vice president of Qualcomm Consumer Products. In that role, he negotiated the Company's first handset sales agreement with U.S. West. He also negotiated handset sales agreements with Sprint and Primeco (now part of Verizon Wireless), key agreements that contributed to the successful rollout of CDMA-based wireless services in the United States.
In 1996, Blecker joined QTL, where, initially as senior VP and since 2001 as general manager, he has been managing the day-to-day operations of the group under Altman. Since 1996, the Company's IP licensing program has grown from approximately 30 licensees and $30 million in revenue per quarter to more than 130 licensees and approximately $500 million in revenue per quarter as of Qualcomm fiscal 2005 second quarter. Also during that period, QTL expanded its licensing program to include more than 50 licensees of WCDMA and TD-SCDMA technologies, so that today most leading wireless manufacturers, including Siemens, Motorola, Panasonic and NEC, hold licenses from Qualcomm covering WCDMA and/or TD-SCDMA.
Prior to joining Qualcomm, Blecker held key management positions in engineering at General Instrument Corporation, Times Fiber Communications and RCA Laboratories where he led development and implementation of test, satellite and cable TV communications systems and products. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics and a master's degree in electrical engineering-systems science from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York (now Polytechnic University).
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. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2004 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® 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 the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, 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, 2004, and most recent Form 10-Q.
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