The Information Technology 100
63
Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a pioneer in wireless communications. It launched the digital wireless standard known as CDMA, which is used by major carriers such as Sprint and Verizon Wireless. It's popular in Asia, too. Qualcomm also developed BREW, an operating system used to create advanced wireless phone applications such as games, video, and photo-sharing.
For its next act, Qualcomm plans to introduce a new version of CDMA that boosts network capacity by 40%. That will help wireless companies add more traffic without buying expensive spectrum. The company, which makes money by licensing its software, has a hefty profit margin of 39%. It expects earnings growth of 11% this year. That's down from an original forecast of 15% because European sales are weaker than expected. Still, Qualcomm seems to be going strong, as founder and CEO Irwin Jacobs, a former engineering professor, prepares to hand leadership to his son Paul on July 1.
Company Info
| STOCK INFO | QCOM |
| Revenues* | $5.2 BILLION
|
| Revenue Growth | 24.6%
|
| Return on Equity | 18.2%
|
| Total Return | 12.0%
|
| Profits* | $1.9 BILLION
|
| Industry | COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
|
| CORPORATE WEB SITE
|
All figures are for the most recent available 12 months.
* Latest available data for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, Jan. 31, Feb. 29, Mar. 31, or Apr. 30. For companies that do not report quarterly, the most recent annual data were used.
Data provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat, BusinessWeek
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Company Snapshot
QUALCOMM Incorporated engages in the development, design, manufacture, and marketing of digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on code division multiple access (CDMA) technology. It develops and supplies CDMA-based integrated circuits and system software for wireless voice and data communications, multimedia functions, and global positioning system products for wireless device and infrastructure manufacturers. The company grants licenses to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio, which includes patent rights essential to or used in the manufacture and sale of CDMA products. It offers satellite and terrestrial-based two-way data messaging and position reporting services for transportation companies, private fleets, construction equipment fleets, and other enterprise companies. The company provides the binary runtime environment for wireless product and services to network operators, handset manufacturers, and application developers; and support for developing and delivering over-the-air wireless applications and services. In addition, QUALCOMM makes strategic investments to promote worldwide adoptions of CDMA products and services for wireless voice and Internet data communications. The company markets its products through direct sales force, partnerships, and distributors in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. QUALCOMM was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
No. of Employees
7,600
Data provided by 
Irwin M. Jacobs
Bio
Irwin Mark Jacobs is one of the Founders and has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm Inc., since July 1985. Dr. Jacobs has been the Chairman of the board of Qualcomm Spinco Inc., since July 2000. Dr. Jacobs served as President of Qualcomm Inc. prior to May 1992. Dr. Jacobs served as an Executive Vice President of M/ A-COM a telecommunications company. Dr. Jacobs held various executive positions at LINKABIT (M/ A-COM LINKABIT after August 1980), a company he co-founded. During most of his period of service with LINKABIT, Dr. Jacobs served as the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer and was at all times a Director from October 1968 to April 1985. Dr. Jacobs served as a Director of M/ A-COM from October 1968 to April 1985. Dr. Jacobs received his B.E.E. degree from Cornell University and his M.S. and Sc.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Jacobs is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1994.
AGE: 71
Titles
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Member of Strategic Committee
Total Compensation*
$3.1 MILLION
Total Value of Options**
$407.3 MILLION
Degrees Held
Cornell University (Bachelor's Degree), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (ScD)
* Latest available fiscal year
** The sum of the net value of options exercised and held in the latest available fiscal year
Key Executives
Irwin Mark Jacobs, Anthony S. Thornley, Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Steven R. Altman, Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, William Keitel, Dr. Roberto Padovani, Jeffrey A. Jacobs, Margaret L. Johnson, Kimberly M. Koro, Chris A. Wolfe, Louis M. Lupin, Dr. Daniel L. Sullivan, Norm Fjeldheim, William F. Davidson Jr., Jeffrey K. Belk
Board Members
Irwin Mark Jacobs, Richard Sulpizio, Paul E. Jacobs, Richard C. Atkinson, Adelia A. Coffman, Diana Lady Dougan, Robert E. Kahn, Duane Nelles, Peter M. Sacerdote, Brent Scowcroft, Marc I. Stern, Raymond V. Dittamore, Jing Wang
