QUALCOMM Congratulates Telstra
QUALCOMM Congratulates Telstra on CDMA2000 1X & BREW(TM)-Enabled Services Launch to Australian Consumers
First Australian Operator to Launch 3G and BREW-Based Services QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, congratulates Telstra Corporation, Australia's largest wireless service provider, on the successful launches of its third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1X network upgrade and its wireless applications service based on QUALCOMM's BREW solution.
Telstra is the first national Australian operator to launch its fast data network services to both consumers and the corporate/enterprise community. Telstra also establishes itself as the premier wireless data service provider in Australia through its BREW-based over-the-air application download service, which will enable Telstra's subscribers to quickly and easily access a variety of games and applications from their BREW-enabled handsets.
"The new consumer service extends the use of the mobile phone beyond voice and SMS to an entertainment portal that will provide customers with access to a rich selection of content and applications," said Tim Buckley, director of next generation wireless services, Telstra. "Telstra believes that customer desire will create a demand for non-voice services. We have worked closely with QUALCOMM to deliver these new non-voice services based on the BREW platform running over Telstra's CDMA2000 1X network, which will allow us to deliver an end-to-end solution for customers where they can purchase, download and customise their mobile device."
Telstra's CDMA2000 1X network is available in greater Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane with current plans to launch Adelaide and Perth in the coming months.
Using its existing CDMA network, Telstra completed a fast and seamless upgrade of its wireless network. With data speeds of up to 144 kbps, the 3G-enabled CDMA2000 1X network will support the continuing growth of voice services, while simultaneously providing new high-speed data capabilities. The BREW solution enabled Telstra to quickly commercialise an application download service in less than a year using its existing CDMA infrastructure -- proving how effective the BREW solution is in meeting time-to-market business needs for wireless operators.
As the first 3G and BREW wireless service provider in Australia, Telstra can now offer consumers as well as enterprises the power of high-speed wireless data access, compelling wireless applications, mobile multimedia and a wide variety of colourful and innovative wireless devices. Telstra is set to launch a range of CDMA2000 1X capable devices and phones in the coming months.
"This network upgrade enables Telstra to offer data rates that are higher than any other wireless offering in the market today. With the BREW-enabled service launch, Telstra subscribers will have the ability to access a range of devices and applications that, until now, have proved time consuming and complex for many users of wireless services," said Marshall Towe, vice president and managing director of Southeast Asia for QUALCOMM.
"Ever since Telstra deployed Australia's first wireless CDMA network now covering more than 1.263 million square kilometres, we have been committed to advanced 3G telecommunications solutions and implementing wireless initiatives, such as the BREW solution, that meet the needs of our customers," said Buckley. "The flexibility of the CDMA network and the end-to-end capabilities of the BREW solution provided Telstra the opportunity to reward our customers. CDMA has enabled us to deliver benefits such as virtually constant connections within a CDMA2000 1X coverage area, enabling customers to experience maximum data download speeds of up to 144 kbps. BREW promises virtually anytime, anywhere access to wireless applications, giving our customers the power to personalise their handsets with the content they desire."
Telstra's launch of CDMA2000 1X follows deployments by 35 commercial operators in 19 countries across Asia Pacific, Australasia, Eastern Europe and the Americas.
Deployments of the BREW solution continue as operators throughout the world join Verizon Wireless and ALLTEL in the United States, KTF in South Korea, KDDI in Japan, Telstra in Australia and China Unicom in commercialising BREW-based services. The joint venture between Telefonica Moviles and Portugal Telecom is rolling out BREW services to subscribers in Latin America this month and U.S. Cellular has launched a BREW user trial. More than 40 BREW-enabled handset models have been offered to consumers worldwide and more than 40 device manufacturers have indicated their interest in the BREW platform.
QUALCOMM's BREW solution is a complete
product and business system for the development and
over-the-air deployment of data services on wireless
devices. The BREW solution provides the necessary tools
and value-added services to developers, device
manufacturers and wireless operators for applications
development and distribution, device configuration and
billing and payment. The BREW platform is a product of
QIS, a division within the QUALCOMM Wireless & Internet
(QWI) Group of QUALCOMM Incorporated. 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 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 and the BREW solution is adopted, 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 30, 2002 and most
recent Form 10-Q. QUALCOMM is a registered trademark
of QUALCOMM Incorporated. BREW is a trademark of QUALCOMM
Incorporated. All other brands may be trademarks of their
respective owners. SOURCE: QUALCOMM Incorporated