SAN DIEGO, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated
(Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) digital wireless technology, and The Egyptian Telephone Company (ETC),
a supplier of telecom equipment and services throughout Egypt, the Middle East
and North Africa, today announced that the companies have signed a worldwide
commercial CDMA subscriber unit license agreement. Under the terms of the
agreement, QUALCOMM has granted ETC a license under its CDMA patent portfolio
to develop, manufacture and distribute cdmaOne(TM) and CDMA2000(R) 1X/1xEV-DO
subscriber units. The royalties payable by ETC are at QUALCOMM's standard
worldwide rates and are the same irrespective of the CDMA standard for which
the subscriber units are sold.
"QUALCOMM is pleased to enter into this agreement with ETC, a company that
has the marketing capabilities to expand CDMA into Egypt and other markets of
the Middle East and Africa," said Marvin Blecker, president of technology
licensing for QUALCOMM. "This license agreement will allow ETC to expand its
product offerings and strengthen its position in the growing worldwide CDMA
market."
"It will be critical for ETC to have the ability to provide CDMA solutions
that support the need for advanced voice and data communications in the Middle
East and Africa," said Sherif Hamed, COO and deputy CEO of ETC. "Through our
licensing agreement with QUALCOMM, we can now offer consumers products with
high-quality capabilities and features that will enrich their wireless
experience."
"With the anticipated introduction of CDMA technology into Egypt, ETC
expects to be a primary supplier of fixed wireless terminals into that market,
in addition to the rest of the Middle East and Africa," said Dr. Tawfik Bardai,
member of the executive committee of ETC. "ETC expects to receive an order of
approximately 200,000 CDMA lines in the near future."
The Egyptian Telephone Company was acquired by NTC/Hatif Group in 2000 as
part of the privatization program carried out by the Egyptian government.
Over the last four and a half years, ETC installed over 800,000 subscriber
lines in Egypt, Iraq and Algeria. ETC also supplied Telecom Egypt with four
million telephone sets. ETC manufactures distribution cabinets under license
from Korona and MDF, as well as over voltage over current protection under
license from 3M. These products were exported worldwide, including China and
Pakistan.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (http://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 2005 FORTUNE 500(R)
company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) 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.
QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. cdmaOne is a
trademark of the CDMA Development Group (CDG). CDMA2000 is a registered
trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA USA). All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
QUALCOMM Contacts:
Emily Gin, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-651-4084
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
or
Bill Davidson, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
The Egyptian Telephone Company Contact:
Sherif Hamed, COO & Deputy CEO
Email: shamed@egyptiantelephone.com
SOURCE QUALCOMM Incorporated
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Related links:
http://www.qualcomm.com
CONTACT:
Emily Gin, Corporate Communications,
+1-858-651-4084, corpcomm@qualcomm.com, or Bill Davidson,
Investor Relations, +1-858-658-4813, ir@qualcomm.com, both of
QUALCOMM Incorporated; or Sherif Hamed, COO & Deputy CEO of The
Egyptian Telephone Company, shamed@egyptiantelephone.com
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