SAN DIEGO -- November 10, 2000 -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced that following a hearing on October 5, 2000, the European Patent Office (EPO) has upheld the validity of another of Qualcomm's patents covering important features of CDMA systems. The opposition proceedings were initiated by Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. of Finland in July 1998. The EPO rejected Nokia's challenge to all claims and ruled that the patent had novelty and contained the requisite inventive step.
Qualcomm's European Patent Number 705512, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Determining the Data Rate of a Received Signal," covers an invention that is essential to the current commercial CDMA standards as well as third-generation (3G) standards. The invention, which is also useful in other, non-CDMA communication systems, makes efficient use of bandwidth by enabling voice data to be transmitted at a variable rate without the need also to transmit data identifying the transmission rate.
"We are gratified that the EPO has again upheld the validity of a fundamental Qualcomm patent," said Ben Miller, vice president and chief patent strategist for Qualcomm. "This invention is an important component of Qualcomm's portfolio of patents that are essential to existing and third-generation CDMA systems."
Qualcomm also reported that the EPO has terminated two other opposition proceedings in Qualcomm's favor, maintaining the patents in both cases. The two terminated proceedings involved European Patent Number 521859, entitled "Direct Digital Synthesizer Driven Phase Lock Loop Frequency Synthesizer with Hard Limiter," and Number 666007, entitled "Mobile Communications Device Registration Method." The former patent covers a frequency synthesizer that requires substantially less space, hardware and power than conventional synthesizers and is applied in a number of integrated circuit and telecommunications products. The latter discloses a technique for accurate monitoring of a mobile phone within a cellular system and is essential to the practice of a number of CDMA industry standards.
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® email software for Windows® and Macintosh® computing platforms; digital cinema systems; and satellite-based systems including portions of the Globalstar™ system and wireless fleet management systems, OmniTRACS® and OmniExpress™. Qualcomm owns patents that are essential to all of the CDMA wireless telecommunications standards that have been adopted or proposed for adoption by standards-setting bodies worldwide. Qualcomm has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 90 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in theS&P500 Index and is a 2000 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 24, 2000, and most recent Form 10-Q.
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