View source for Qualcomm

{{Short description|American semiconductor company}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Qualcomm Incorporated
| logo = [[File:Qualcomm-Logo.svg|upright=1.15|frameless|class=skin-invert-image]]
| image = Qualcomm Headquarters La Jolla.jpg
| image_upright = 1.15
| image_caption = Headquarters in San Diego, California
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NASDAQ|QCOM}}|[[Nasdaq-100]] component|[[S&P 100]] component|[[S&P 500]] component}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1985|7}}
| founders = {{ubl|[[Irwin M. Jacobs|Irwin Jacobs]]|[[Andrew Viterbi]]|Franklin Antonio}}
| location_city = [[San Diego]], California
| location_country = U.S.
| area = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Cristiano Amon]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])|Mark D. McLaughlin ([[chairman]])}}
| industry = {{nowrap|[[Telecoms equipment]]s<br />[[Semiconductor industry|Semiconductor]]s}}
| products = [[CDMA]]/[[WCDMA]] [[chipsets]], [[Snapdragon (processor)|Snapdragon]], Dragonwing, [[Qualcomm Brew|BREW]], OmniTRACS, [[MediaFLO]], [[QChat]], [[Interferometric modulator display|mirasol displays]], uiOne, [[Qualcomm Gobi|Gobi]], [[Qizx]], [[Central processing unit|CPU]]
| subsid = {{ubl|[[Airgo Networks]]|[[CSR plc]]|[[Ikanos Communications]]|Nuvia|[[Qualcomm Atheros]]|[[SiRF]]|[[Arduino]]}}
| num_employees = {{circa|52,000}} (2025)
| revenue = {{Increase}} {{US$|44.28&nbsp;[[1,000,000,000|billion]]|link=yes}} (2025)
| operating_income = {{Increase}} {{US$|12.36&nbsp;billion}} (2025)
| net_income = {{Decrease}} {{US$|5.541&nbsp;billion}} (2025)
| assets = {{Decrease}} {{US$|50.14&nbsp;billion}} (2025)
| equity = {{Decrease}} {{US$|21.21&nbsp;billion}} (2025)
| website = {{URL|https://www.qualcomm.com/|qualcomm.com}}
| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2025|09|28|lc=y|df=US}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/804328/000080432825000085/qcom-20250928.htm |title=US SEC: 2025 Form 10-K Qualcomm Incorporated |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Qualcomm Incorporated''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|ɒ|l|k|ɒ|m}})<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref> is an American [[multinational corporation]] headquartered in [[San Diego]], California, and [[Delaware General Corporation Law|incorporated in Delaware]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=EDGAR Search Results|url=https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=qcom&owner=exclude&action=getcompany|website=sec.gov|access-date=May 15, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806152257/https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=qcom&owner=exclude&action=getcompany|url-status=live}}</ref> It creates semiconductors, software and services related to wireless technology. It owns patents critical to the [[5G]], [[4G]],<ref name="qualcomm.com">{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2014 |title=Licensing &#124; Intellectual Property |url=https://www.qualcomm.com/company/licensing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402135429/https://www.qualcomm.com/company/licensing |archive-date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> [[CDMA2000]], [[TD-SCDMA]] and [[WCDMA]] mobile communications standards.

Qualcomm was established in 1985 by [[Irwin M. Jacobs|Irwin Jacobs]] and six others. Its early research into [[code-division multiple access]] (CDMA) wireless cell phone technology was funded by selling a two-way mobile digital satellite communications system known as Omnitracs. After a heated debate in the wireless industry, CDMA was adopted as a 2G standard in North America, with Qualcomm's patents incorporated.<ref name="Chafkin King 2017"/> Afterwards, there was a series of legal disputes about pricing for licensing patents required by the standard.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Guy|last1=Daniels|website=TelecomTV|url=https://www.telecomtv.com/content/business-models/first-the-ftc-now-apple-is-qualcomm-s-business-model-under-threat-14309/|title=First the FTC, now Apple: is Qualcomm's business model under threat?|date=January 23, 2017 }}</ref>

Over the years, Qualcomm has expanded into selling semiconductor products in a predominantly [[fabless manufacturing]] model.

==History==
===Early history===
Qualcomm was created in July 1985<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tibken |first=Shara |date=December 21, 2011 |title=Qualcomm Founder Set to Retire |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204879004577111313063790248 |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122235545/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204879004577111313063790248 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Chafkin King 2017" /> by seven former [[Linkabit]] employees led by Irwin Jacobs.<ref name="Mock2005" /> Other co-founders included [[Andrew Viterbi]], Franklin Antonio, Adelia Coffman, Andrew Cohen, Klein Gilhousen, and Harvey White.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/08/10/qualcomm.facts/ |title=Qualcomm facts |date=August 13, 2007 |website=CNN Business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725060709/http://www.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/08/10/qualcomm.facts/ |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> The company was named Qualcomm for "Quality Communications".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deagon |first=Brian |date=May 25, 2014 |title=Qualcomm Dialed 26,078% Gain as it Transformed Mobile |work=Investor’s Business Daily |url=http://news.investors.com/business-the-new-america/042514-698579-qualcomm-qcom-set-cdma-cellphone-standard.htm |access-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929065514/http://news.investors.com/business-the-new-america/042514-698579-qualcomm-qcom-set-cdma-cellphone-standard.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It started as a contract research and development center<ref name="Steinbock2003">{{Cite book |last=Steinbock |first=Dan |url=https://archive.org/details/wirelesshorizons00stei |title=Wireless Horizon: Strategy and Competition in the Worldwide Mobile Marketplace |publisher=AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-8144-0714-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/wirelesshorizons00stei/page/305 305] |url-access=registration}}</ref> largely for government and defense projects.<ref name="Mock2005">{{Cite book |last=Mock |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JcH4C2eAsJEC |title=The Qualcomm Equation: How a Fledgling Telecom Company Forged a New Path to Big Profits and Market Dominance |date=January 1, 2005 |publisher=AMACOM: American Management Association |isbn=978-0-8144-2858-0 |pages=33 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819130407/https://books.google.com/books?id=JcH4C2eAsJEC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="six" />

Qualcomm merged with Omninet in 1988 and raised $3.5 million in funding to produce the Omnitracs satellite communications system for trucking companies.<ref name="Mock2005" /> Qualcomm grew from eight employees in 1986 to 620 employees in 1991, due to demand for Omnitracs.<ref name="nytnyt">{{Cite news |last=Salpukas |first=Agis |date=June 5, 1991 |title=Satellite System Helps Trucks Stay in Touch |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/05/business/business-technology-satellite-system-helps-trucks-stay-in-touch.html |access-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-date=September 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906154334/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/05/business/business-technology-satellite-system-helps-trucks-stay-in-touch.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1989, Qualcomm had $32 million in revenue, 50 percent of which was from an Omnitracs contract with [[Schneider National]].<ref name="Mock2005" /><ref name="two">{{Cite news |last=Kraul |first=Chris |date=November 23, 1988 |title=Big Boost for Qualcomm |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-23-fi-275-story.html |access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> Omnitracs profits helped fund Qualcomm's research and development into [[code-division multiple access]] (CDMA) technologies for cell phone networks.<ref name="Steinbock2003" /><ref name="tribunel" />

===1990–2015===
Qualcomm was operating at a loss in the 1990s due to its investment in CDMA research.<ref name="Steinbock2003" /><ref name="tribunel">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Mike |date=November 26, 2014 |title=Qualcomm completes sale of Omnitracs |work=The San Diego Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Nov/26/Qualcomm-Omnitracs-Vista-Equity-partners/ |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043500/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> To obtain funding, the company filed an [[initial public offering]] in September 1991,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Greg |date=September 17, 1991 |title=Qualcomm Goes Public With Stock |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-17-fi-2845-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016205314/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-17/business/fi-2845_1_qualcomm-treasurer-dick-grannis |url-status=live }}</ref> raising {{US$|long=no|68 million}}.<ref name="Mock2005" /> An additional {{US$|long=no|486 million}} was raised in 1995 through the sale of 11.5 million more shares. The second funding round was done to raise money for the mass manufacturing of CDMA-based phones, base-stations, and equipment, after most US-based cellular networks announced they would adopt the CDMA standard.<ref name="Steinbock2003" /> The company had {{US$|long=no|383 million}} in annual revenue in 1995<ref name="bwbw">{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Larry |date=September 3, 1995 |title=Qualcomm: Unproven, But Dazzling |work=BusinessWeek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1995-09-03/qualcomm-unproven-but-dazzling |access-date=July 16, 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and {{US$|long=no|814 million}} by 1996.<ref name="bw3" />

In 1998, Qualcomm was restructured, leading to a 700-employee layoff. Its base station and cell-phone manufacturing businesses were spun-off in order to focus on its higher-margin patents and chipset businesses.<ref name="Mock2005" /><ref name="Steinbock2003" />{{RP|310–311}} Since the base station division was losing {{US$|long=no|400M}} a year (having never sold another base station after making its 10th sale), profits skyrocketed in the following year, and Qualcomm was the fastest growing stock on the market with a 2,621 percent growth over one year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nee |first=Eric |date=May 15, 2000 |title=Qualcomm Hits The Big Time Pushing a little-known digital cellular technology from surf's-up San Diego, this $4-billion-a-year hotshot wants to be THE NEXT INTEL |work=Fortune Magazine |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/05/15/279766/index.htm |access-date=October 22, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806234940/https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/05/15/279766/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sandiegomag">{{Cite news |last=Perkins |first=Joseph |date=September 3, 2010 |title=A Qualcomm Quarter-Century |work=San Diego Magazine |url=http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/September-2010/A-Qualcomm-Quarter-Century/ |access-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110160205/https://www.sandiegomagazine.com//San-Diego-Magazine/September-2010/A-Qualcomm-Quarter-Century |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Junnarkar |first1=Sandeep |last2=Ard |first2=Scott |date=January 7, 2000 |title=Taking stock of 1999 |publisher=CNET |url=http://news.cnet.com/Taking-stock-of-1999/2100-1017_3-235357.html |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043510/https://www.cnet.com/news/taking-stock-of-1999/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2000, Qualcomm had grown to 6,300 employees, {{US$|long=no|3.2 billion}} in revenues, and {{US$|long=no|670 million}} in profit. 39 percent of its sales were from CDMA technology, followed by licensing (22%), wireless (22%), and other products (17%).<ref name="Steinbock2003" /> Around this time, Qualcomm established offices in Europe, Asia Pacific, and in the Americas.<ref name="Steinbock2003" />{{RP|316}} By 2001, 65 percent of Qualcomm's revenues originated from outside the United States with 35 percent coming from South Korea.<ref name="Steinbock2003" />{{RP|19}}

In 2005, [[Paul E. Jacobs]], son of Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, was appointed as Qualcomm's new CEO.<ref name="nytsy">{{Cite news |last=Wollan |first=Malia |date=June 12, 2011 |title=At Qualcomm, Rise of Founder's Son Defies Hazards of Succession |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/technology/13qualcomm.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0&amp;gwt=pay |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=December 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222084815/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/technology/13qualcomm.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0&gwt=pay |url-status=live }}</ref> Whereas Irwin Jacobs focused on CDMA patents, Paul Jacobs refocused much of Qualcomm's new research and development on projects related to the [[Internet of things]].<ref name="nytsy" /> In the same year they acquired Flarion Technologies, a developer of wireless broadband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access (OFDMA) technology.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 11, 2005|title=Qualcomm acquires Flarion Technologies|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d5806b02-0a8d-11da-aa9b-00000e2511c8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d5806b02-0a8d-11da-aa9b-00000e2511c8 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=September 15, 2021|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Qualcomm announced Steven Mollenkopf would succeed Paul Jacobs as CEO in December 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Qualcomm names Mollenkopf president, COO |work=EE Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1260357 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106015543/http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1260357 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Brian |date=December 13, 2013 |title=Qualcomm Picks Insider as New Chief Executive |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/technology/qualcomm-names-a-new-chief-executive.html?_r=0 |access-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110120113/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/technology/qualcomm-names-a-new-chief-executive.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mollenkopf said he would expand Qualcomm's focus to wireless technology for cars, wearable devices, and other new markets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Alistair |date=January 6, 2014 |title=CES 2014: Qualcomm CEO sees growth in wearables, autos |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/01/06/qualcomm-ceo-mollenkopf/4341927/ |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=USA Today |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806142426/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/01/06/qualcomm-ceo-mollenkopf/4341927/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rubin 2014">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Ben Fox |date=November 19, 2014 |title=Qualcomm wants to move out of your pocket into your car, house and wearable |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-wants-to-move-out-of-your-pocket-into-your-cars-house-and-wearable/ |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=CNET |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040433/https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-wants-to-move-out-of-your-pocket-into-your-cars-house-and-wearable/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2015–2024: NXP, Broadcom and Nuvia===
Qualcomm announced its intent to acquire [[NXP Semiconductors]] for $47 billion in October 2016.<ref name="Fortune 2016">{{Cite web |last=Pressman |first=Aaron |date=October 27, 2016 |title=Here's Why the Qualcomm-NXP Deal Makes Sense |url=http://fortune.com/2016/10/27/qualcomm-nxp-deal/ |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=Fortune |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021230049/https://fortune.com/2016/10/27/qualcomm-nxp-deal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal was approved by U.S. antitrust regulators in April 2017<ref name="Fortune 2017">{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Qualcomm's $47 Billion Acquisition Clears Key Hurdle |url=http://fortune.com/2017/04/04/qualcomm-nxp-acquisition-antitrust/ |access-date=October 5, 2017 |website=Fortune |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023245/https://fortune.com/2017/04/04/qualcomm-nxp-acquisition-antitrust/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with some standard-essential patents excluded to get the deal approved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chee |first=Foo Yun |date=October 10, 2017 |title=Qualcomm offers to buy NXP minus some patents to allay EU concerns:... |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nxp-semicondtrs-m-a-qualcomm-eu/qualcomm-offers-to-buy-nxp-minus-some-patents-to-allay-eu-concerns-sources-idUSKBN1CF20D |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=U.S. |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115174737/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nxp-semicondtrs-m-a-qualcomm-eu/qualcomm-offers-to-buy-nxp-minus-some-patents-to-allay-eu-concerns-sources-idUSKBN1CF20D |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Drozdiak 2018">{{Cite web |last=Drozdiak |first=Natalia |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Set to Win European Backing for $39 Billion NXP Buy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-set-to-win-european-backing-for-39-billion-nxp-buy-1515673776 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043232/https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-set-to-win-european-backing-for-39-billion-nxp-buy-1515673776 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the NXP acquisition was ongoing, [[Broadcom]] made a $103 billion offer to acquire Qualcomm,<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ian |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Broadcom Offers $105 Billion for Qualcomm in Landmark Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-06/broadcom-offers-130-billion-for-qualcomm-in-landmark-tech-deal |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205161344/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-06/broadcom-offers-130-billion-for-qualcomm-in-landmark-tech-deal |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Mukherjee 2017">{{Cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Supantha |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Broadcom bids $103 billion for Qualcomm, open to going hostile |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-m-a-broadcom/broadcom-offers-to-buy-mobile-chipmaker-qualcomm-for-103-billion-idUSKBN1D61EO |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=U.S. |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109083707/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-m-a-broadcom/broadcom-offers-to-buy-mobile-chipmaker-qualcomm-for-103-billion-idUSKBN1D61EO |url-status=live }}</ref> and Qualcomm rejected the offer.<ref name="Mukherjee 20172">{{Cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Supantha |date=November 13, 2017 |title=Qualcomm rejects Broadcom's $103-billion takeover bid |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-m-a-broadcom/qualcomm-rejects-broadcoms-103-billion-takeover-proposal-idUSKBN1DD1NU |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=U.S. |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043740/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-m-a-broadcom/qualcomm-rejects-broadcoms-103-billion-takeover-proposal-idUSKBN1DD1NU |url-status=live }}</ref> Broadcom attempted a [[hostile takeover]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venugopal |first=Aishwarya |date=December 4, 2017 |title=Broadcom is laying the foundation for a hostile takeover of Qualcomm |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/qualcomm-broadcom-laying-the-foundation-for-a-hostile-takeover-2017-12 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134942/https://www.businessinsider.com/qualcomm-broadcom-laying-the-foundation-for-a-hostile-takeover-2017-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> and raised its offer, eventually to $121 billion.<ref name="dkahfad">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ian |date=February 5, 2018 |title=Broadcom Raises Qualcomm Hostile Bid to About $121 Billion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/broadcom-is-said-planning-to-boost-qualcomm-bid-to-120-billion |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012319/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-05/broadcom-is-said-planning-to-boost-qualcomm-bid-to-120-billion |url-status=live }}</ref> The potential Broadcom acquisition was investigated by the U.S. [[Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States|Committee on Foreign Investment]]<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Massoudi |first1=Arash |last2=Toplensky |first2=Rochelle |last3=Fontanella-Khan |first3=James |date=March 5, 2018 |title=US national security regulator delays Qualcomm vote |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fb3e6312-2055-11e8-a895-1ba1f72c2c11 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=Financial Times |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806132324/https://www.ft.com/content/fb3e6312-2055-11e8-a895-1ba1f72c2c11 |url-status=live }}</ref> and blocked by an executive order from U.S. President [[Donald Trump]], citing national security concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=David |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Trump Blocks Broadcom Takeover of Qualcomm on Security Risks |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-12/trump-issues-order-to-block-broadcom-s-takeover-of-qualcomm-jeoszwnt |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=March 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312230138/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-12/trump-issues-order-to-block-broadcom-s-takeover-of-qualcomm-jeoszwnt |url-status=live }}</ref>

Qualcomm's NXP acquisition then became a part of the [[2018 China–United States trade war]].<ref name="ouafhouh">{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Alex |date=June 15, 2018 |title=Trump Throws a Wrench Into Qualcomm's NXP Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-06-15/trump-throws-a-wrench-into-qualcomm-s-nxp-deal |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616011920/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-06-15/trump-throws-a-wrench-into-qualcomm-s-nxp-deal |url-status=live }}</ref> U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] blocked China-based [[ZTE Corporation]] from buying American-made components, such as those from Qualcomm.<ref name="ouafhouh" /><ref name="The New York Times 2018">{{Cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Ana |last2=Stevenson |first2=Alexandra |date=April 18, 2018 |title=Qualcomm May Be Collateral Damage in a U.S.-China Trade War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/us/politics/qualcomm-us-china-trade-war.html |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109035622/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/us/politics/qualcomm-us-china-trade-war.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The ZTE restriction was lifted after the two countries reached an agreement,<ref name="Financial Times 2017">{{Cite web |last=Yuk |first=Pan |date=June 7, 2018 |title=Qualcomm, NXP jolted higher after US-ZTE deal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c162a48c-6a56-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=Financial Times |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806150923/https://www.ft.com/content/c162a48c-6a56-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec |url-status=live }}</ref> but then Trump raised tariffs against Chinese goods.<ref name="ouafhouh" /> Qualcomm extended a tender offer to NXP at least 29 times pending Chinese approval,<ref name="Reuters 2018">{{Cite web |last=Rai |first=Sonam |date=June 29, 2018 |title=Qualcomm extends NXP tender offer yet again |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-qualcomm-extends-nxp-tender-offer-yet-again-2018-6 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806234925/https://www.businessinsider.com/r-qualcomm-extends-nxp-tender-offer-yet-again-2018-6 |url-status=live }}</ref> before abandoning the deal in July 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Don |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Scraps $44 Billion NXP Deal After China Inaction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/technology/qualcomm-nxp-china-deadline.html |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213193601/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/technology/qualcomm-nxp-china-deadline.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Eliot |last2=Davis |first2=Bob |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Abandons NXP Deal Amid U.S.-China Tensions |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-plans-to-abandon-nxp-deal-1532549728 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222051908/https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-plans-to-abandon-nxp-deal-1532549728 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 6, 2021, Qualcomm appointed its president and chip division head [[Cristiano Amon]] as its new chief executive.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nellis|first=Stephen|date=January 5, 2021|title=Chip giant Qualcomm names Amon CEO as 5G era ramps up|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-ceo-idUSKBN29A1EE|access-date=January 5, 2021|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112021639/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-ceo-idUSKBN29A1EE|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 13, 2021, Qualcomm announced it would acquire Nuvia, a [[Server (computing)|server CPU]] startup founded in early 2019 by ex-[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and ex-[[Google]] architects, for approximately $1.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 13, 2021|title=Qualcomm to Acquire NUVIA|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/01/13/qualcomm-acquire-nuvia|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Qualcomm|language=en|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321160854/https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/01/13/qualcomm-acquire-nuvia|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|author-first1=Jon|author-last1=Carvill|date=November 15, 2019|title=NUVIA Raises $53 Million to Reimagine Silicon Design for the Data Center|url=https://nuviainc.com/nuvia-raises-53-million-to-reimagine-silicon-design-for-the-data-center/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=NUVIA|language=en-US|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422062904/https://nuviainc.com/nuvia-raises-53-million-to-reimagine-silicon-design-for-the-data-center/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The acquisition was completed in March 2021, and it was announced that its first products would be laptop CPUs, shipping in the second half of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 16, 2021|title=Qualcomm Completes Acquisition of NUVIA|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/03/16/qualcomm-completes-acquisition-nuvia|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Qualcomm|language=en|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321222341/https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/03/16/qualcomm-completes-acquisition-nuvia|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2022, Qualcomm acquired the [[advanced driver-assistance systems]] and [[autonomous driving]] software brand Arriver from the investment company SSW Partners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualcomm accelerates advanced driver tech with Arriver acquisition |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252515510/Qualcomm-accelerates-advanced-driver-tech-with-Arriver-acquisition |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=ComputerWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2022, Qualcomm acquired Israeli startup Cellwize through its investment arm Qualcomm Ventures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Qualcomm acquiring Israeli startup Cellwize for $350 million |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sknoujvy5 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=ctech |language=en|author-first1=Meir|author-last1=Orbach}}</ref>

In August 2022, ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' reported that Qualcomm was planning to return to server CPU market based on Nuvia's product.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-18/qualcomm-is-plotting-a-return-to-server-market-with-new-chip |title=Qualcomm Is Plotting a Return to Server Market With New Chip |date=August 18, 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |first=Ian |last=King |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220818173212/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-18/qualcomm-is-plotting-a-return-to-server-market-with-new-chip |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, [[Arm (company)|Arm Ltd.]] announced that it sued Qualcomm and Nuvia for breaching license agreements and trademark violations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/chips-tech-firm-arm-sues-qualcomm-nuvia-breach-license-trademark-2022-08-31/ |title=Chips tech firm Arm sues Qualcomm and Nuvia for breach of license and trademark |work=[[Reuters]] |date=August 31, 2022 |first1=Stephen |last1=Nellis |first2=Jane Lanhee |last2=Lee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831192102/https://www.reuters.com/legal/chips-tech-firm-arm-sues-qualcomm-nuvia-breach-license-trademark-2022-08-31/ |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Arm cited that the chip designs using Arm licenses developed by Nuvia could not be transferred to its parent Qualcomm without permission.<ref name=qcomxarm>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-31/arm-says-it-s-suing-qualcomm-for-licensing-trademark-violations |title=SoftBank's Arm Is Suing Qualcomm for Licensing and Trademark Violations |date=August 31, 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |first=Ian |last=King |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220831190942/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-31/arm-says-it-s-suing-qualcomm-for-licensing-trademark-violations |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Qualcomm indicated that its licenses with Arm cover custom-designed processors.<ref name=qcomxarm />

In January 2023, the company announced a new partnership with [[Salesforce]] to develop a connected vehicle platform for automakers using the Snapdragon digital chassis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qualcomm, Salesforce to build new connected vehicle platform for automakers |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/qualcomm-salesforce-build-new-connected-vehicle-platform-automakers-2023-01-05/ |access-date=14 December 2023|date=5 January 2023}}</ref>

In May 2023, Qualcomm announced their intent to purchase Israeli [[Fabless manufacturing|fabless]] chipmaking company Autotalks for a reported $350–400 million. The purchase is subject to review by the [[Competition and Markets Authority]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-is-buying-auto-safety-chipmaker-autotalks-120131989.html |title=Qualcomm is buying auto-safety chipmaker Autotalks |last=Moon |first=Mariella |website=Engadget |date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=Yahoo |access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-29 |title=UK's CMA says examining Qualcomm's buyout of Israel's Autotalks |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/uk-regulator-examining-qualcomms-buyout-israels-autotalks-2023-09-29/ |access-date=2023-09-29}}</ref> In March 2024, it was announced by the Federal Trade Commission that Qualcomm's proposed acquisition of Autotalks has been terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-23 |title=Qualcomm abandons $350 million Autotalks acquisition amid regulatory roadblocks |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hy711r220t |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=ctech |language=en|author-first1=Meir|author-last1=Orbach}}</ref>

In September 2023, the company announced that it had signed a contract rumored to be worth $75 million per year for its [[Qualcomm Snapdragon|Snapdragon]] brand to be the primary shirt sponsor for English [[association football|football]] club [[Manchester United]] starting with the 2024–25 season, replacing German company [[TeamViewer (company)|TeamViewer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38390901/man-united-announce-us-tech-brand-new-shirt-sponsor|title=Man Utd name U.S. tech brand as shirt sponsor|date=September 13, 2023|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Crafton |first1=Adam |last2=Slater |first2=Matt |title=Man Utd confirm Qualcomm as shirt sponsors from 2024-25 season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4857435/2023/09/12/manchester-united-qualcomm-shirt-sponsor-2/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2023 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In October 2023, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon X series, a computing platform for Windows PCs which includes a custom ARM-based [[Oryon]] CPU (from Nuvia acquisition), a GPU, and a dedicated neural processing unit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=October 11, 2023 |title=Qualcomm will try to have its Apple Silicon moment in PCs with "Snapdragon X" |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/10/qualcomm-will-try-to-have-its-apple-silicon-moment-in-pcs-with-snapdragon-x/ |website=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ryan |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Performance Preview: A First Look at What's to Come |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/21112/qualcomm-snapdragon-x-elite-performance-preview-a-first-look-at-whats-to-come |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231030160703/https://www.anandtech.com/show/21112/qualcomm-snapdragon-x-elite-performance-preview-a-first-look-at-whats-to-come |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |website=AnandTech}}</ref>

In October 2024, Qualcomm announced that the Qualcomm-Microsoft exclusive protocol will be expired in December 25 2024, allows [[Windows on ARM (disambiguation)|Windows on ARM]] devices can adapt ARM CPUs other than [[Qualcomm Snapdragon]].<ref>{{Cite news |author1=Nick Evanson |date=2023-10-24 |title=AMD and Nvidia to join Qualcomm in the Windows Arm(s) race |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-and-nvidia-to-join-qualcomm-in-the-windows-arms-race/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2024, [[Arm (company)|Arm Ltd.]] said it would cancel Qualcomm's chip design license in an escalation of the dispute over the acquisition of Nuvia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Acton |first=Michael |date=2024-10-23 |website=Financial Times |title=Arm cancels Qualcomm's chip design licence amid legal dispute |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9f638080-a406-4f53-a3c6-d5f321c3d042}}</ref> In December 2024, a U.S. federal jury ruled partially in Qualcomm's favor, finding that its designs were properly licensed under an agreement with Arm. However, the jury was deadlocked on one of three issues raised, resulting in a mistrial on that specific point.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Tobias |date=December 23, 2024 |title=Jury spares Qualcomm's AI PC ambitions, but Arm eyes a retrial |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/23/qualcomm_arm_trial/ |work=The Register}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hals |first=Tom |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Qualcomm secures key win in chips trial against Arm |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-jury-deadlocked-arm-trial-against-qualcomm-still-deliberating-2024-12-20/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> In February 2025, Arm withdrew its efforts to terminate Qualcomm's chip-licensing agreement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=February 6, 2025 |title=Arm gives up on killing off Qualcomm's vital chip license |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/arm_qualcomm_nuvia/ |website=[[The Register]]}}</ref>

=== 2025–present: Further acquisitions ===
On 2 April 2025, Qualcomm acquired Movian AI, the [[generative artificial intelligence]] unit of Vietnamese research company VinAI.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Kyle Wiggers|date=2025-04-01 |title=Qualcomm acquires generative AI division of Vietnamese startup VinAI |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/01/qualcomm-acquires-generative-ai-division-of-vietnamese-startup-vinai/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |work=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=((The Hindu Bureau))|date=2025-04-02 |title=Qualcomm acquires Vietnamese GenAI unit VinAI |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/qualcomm-acquires-vietnamese-genai-unit-vinai/article69402733.ece |access-date=2025-04-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Qualcomm acquired Autotalks through its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc on the 5th of June 2025 for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lopez-Hodoyan |first=Mauricio |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Qualcomm Acquires Autotalks to Boost V2X Deployments, Enhance Road Safety, and Improve Automated Driving and Traffic Efficiency |url=https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2025/06/qualcomm-acquires-autotalks-to-boost-v2x-deployments--enhance-ro |publisher=Qualcomm Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Orbach |first=Meir |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Qualcomm acquires Autotalks for hundreds of millions after two-year delay |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/95ujdebr8 |publisher=Calcalist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Orbach |first=Meir |date=June 8, 2025 |title=Once a $400M prospect, Autotalks sold to Qualcomm for less than $100M |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/dvb1gmn41 |publisher=Calcalist}}</ref> Autotalks is an Israeli fabless semiconductor company founded in 2008, specializing in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications.

Qualcomm agreed to acquire British semiconductor maker of high-speed wired connectivity, Alphawave IP Group, for $2.4 billion on June 9th 2025, with the intention to expand into data centre and AI infrastructure markets.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Amy |date=June 9, 2025 |title=Qualcomm Agrees to Buy UK-Listed Alphawave for $2.4 Billion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-09/qualcomm-agrees-to-buy-uk-listed-alphawave-for-2-4-billion |publisher=Bloomberg News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kalia |first=Yamini |date=June 9, 2025 |title=Qualcomm strengthens AI portfolio with $2.4 billion Alphawave deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/qualcomm-acquire-uks-alphawave-24-billion-2025-06-09/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref>

Qualcomm acquired [[Arduino]] on 7 October 2025, an Italian company specialising in [[Single-board microcontroller|single-board microcontrollers]] and [[microcontroller]] kits for an undisclosed amount. At the same time, Arduino announced the Uno Q, which uses the Qualcomm QRB2210 [[system on a chip]], intended for AI and graphical workloads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-07 |title=Qualcomm Buys Arduino, Will Bring AI Tools to Your DIY Tech Projects |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/components/160490/qualcomm-buys-arduino-will-bring-ai-tools-to-your-diy-tech-projects|author-first1=James|author-last1=Peckham|access-date=2025-10-07 |website=PCMag UK |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nellis |first=Stephen |date=2025-10-07 |title=Qualcomm buys open-source electronics firm Arduino |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/qualcomm-buys-open-source-electronics-firm-arduino-2025-10-07/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

==Wireless CDMA==
===2G===
====Early history====
In mid-1985, Qualcomm was hired by [[Hughes Aircraft]] to provide research and testing for a satellite network proposal to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC).<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|38}} The following year, Qualcomm filed its first CDMA patent (No. 4,901,307).<ref name="Mock2005" /> This patent established Qualcomm's overall approach to CDMA<ref name="Mock2005" /> and later became one of the most frequently cited technical documents in history.<ref name="BlaxillEckardt2009">{{Cite book |last1=Blaxill |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JO6kA0hebJIC&pg=PA86 |title=The Invisible Edge: Taking Your Strategy to the Next Level Using Intellectual Property |last2=Eckardt |first2=Ralph |publisher=Portfolio |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-59184-237-8 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819132954/https://books.google.com/books?id=JO6kA0hebJIC&pg=PA86 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|84}} The project with the FCC was scrapped in 1988, when the FCC told all twelve vendors that submitted proposals to form a joint venture to create a single proposal.<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|38}}

Qualcomm further developed the CDMA techniques for commercial use and submitted them to the [[Cellular Telephone Industries Association]] (CTIA) in 1989 as an alternative to the [[time-division multiple access]] (TDMA) standard for second-generation cell-phone networks.<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|49}} A few months later, CTIA officially rejected Qualcomm's CDMA standard<ref name="LeiSlocum2013">{{Cite book |last1=Lei |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LaJFAAAAQBAJ |title=Demystifying Your Business Strategy |last2=Slocum |first2=John W. |date=August 29, 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-26802-1 |pages=101 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819141202/https://books.google.com/books?id=LaJFAAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> in favor of the more established TDMA standard developed by [[Ericsson]].<ref name="Steinbock2003" /><ref name="bw3">{{Cite news |last=Elstrom |first=Peter |date=June 1, 1997 |title=Qualcomm: Not Exactly An Overnight Success |work=BusinessWeek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1997-06-01/qualcomm-not-exactly-an-overnight-success |access-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714105001/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1997-06-01/qualcomm-not-exactly-an-overnight-success |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the time, CDMA wasn't considered viable in high-volume commercial applications due to the near-far field effect, whereby phones closer to a cell tower with a stronger signal drown out callers that are further away and have a weaker signal.<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|54–55,62–65}}<ref name="wsjalpha" /> Qualcomm filed three additional patents in 1989. They were for: a power management system that adjusts the signal strength of each call to adjust for the near-far field effect; a "soft handoff" methodology for transferring callers from one cell-tower to the next; and a variable rate encoder, which reduces bandwidth usage when a caller isn't speaking.<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|54–55,62–65}}<ref name="wsjalpha" />

====Holy wars of wireless====
After the FCC said carriers were allowed to implement standards not approved by the CTIA, Qualcomm began pitching its CDMA technology directly to carriers.<ref name="Mock2005" /> This started what is often referred to as "the Holy Wars of Wireless", an often heated debate about whether TDMA or CDMA was better suited for 2G networks.<ref name="Mock2005" />{{RP|117–120}} Qualcomm-supported CDMA standards eventually unseated TDMA as the more popular 2G standard in North America, due to its network capacity.<ref name="bw3" />

Qualcomm conducted CDMA test demonstrations in 1989<ref name="Klemens2010" /> in San Diego and in 1990 in New York City.<ref name="thanks" /><ref name="Chen2007" /> In 1990, [[NYNEX|Nynex Mobile Communications]] and [[Ameritech Mobile Communications]] were the first carriers to implement CDMA networks instead of TDMA.<ref name="thanks">{{Cite news |last1=Armstrong |first1=Larry |last2=Therrien |first2=Lois |last3=Coy |first3=Peter |date=August 20, 1990 |title=Bolting from the cellular herd |work=BusinessWeek}}</ref> [[Motorola]], a prior TDMA advocate, conducted CDMA test implementations in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1990 |title=Motorola Shift On Technology |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/20/business/motorola-shift-on-technology.html |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904102122/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/20/business/motorola-shift-on-technology.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wsjalpha">{{Cite news |last=Hardy |first=Quentin |date=September 6, 1996 |title=Jacobs's Patter: An Inventor's Promise Has Companies Taking Big Cellular Gamble --- Qualcomm Boss's Innovation In Digital-Phone System Is Problematic – and Late --- Are Claims Hope or Hype? |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> This was followed by a $2 million trial network in San Diego for [[AirTouch|Airtouch Communications]].<ref name="bw3" /><ref name="Chen2007">{{Cite book |last=Hsiao-Hwa Chen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eMfG0kuaL-kC&pg=PA178 |title=The Next Generation CDMA Technologies |date=August 20, 2007 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-02295-5 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819061201/https://books.google.com/books?id=eMfG0kuaL-kC&pg=PA178 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|177}} In November 1991, 14 carriers and manufacturers conducted large-scale CDMA field tests.<ref name="bw3" /><ref name="international">{{Cite book |last=Gale Group |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/qualcomm-incorporated-history/ |title=International Directory of Company Histories |date=December 2, 2002 |publisher=St. James Press |isbn=978-1-55862-476-4 |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126075549/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/qualcomm-incorporated-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Results from the test implementations convinced CTIA to re-open discussions regarding CDMA and the 2G standard.<ref name="PhD2010">{{Cite book |last=William A. Cohen, PhD |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CevTu1VbrgEC&pg=PT60 |title=Heroic Leadership: Leading with Integrity and Honor |date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-40501-7 |page=60 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930070457/https://books.google.com/books?id=CevTu1VbrgEC&pg=PT60 |url-status=live }}</ref> CTIA changed its position and supported CDMA in 1993,<ref name="bw3" /> adopting Qualcomm's CDMA as the IS-95A standard, also known as cdmaOne.<ref name="LemstraHayes2010">{{Cite book |last1=Lemstra |first1=Wolter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OMoL5Irm08C&pg=PA29 |title=The Innovation Journey of Wi-Fi: The Road to Global Success |last2=Hayes |first2=Vic |last3=Groenewegen |first3=John |date=November 18, 2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-49257-7 |pages=29 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819170233/https://books.google.com/books?id=-OMoL5Irm08C&pg=PA29 |url-status=live }}</ref> This prompted widespread criticism in forums, trade press, and conventions from businesses that had already invested heavily in the TDMA standard and from TDMA's developer, Ericsson.<ref name="bw3" /><ref name="PhD2010" />

The first commercial-scale CDMA cellular network was created in Hong Kong in 1995.<ref name="LemstraHayes2010" /> On July 21, 1995, [[Primeco]], which represented a joint venture of [[Bell Atlantic]], [[Nynex]], [[US West]] and [[AirTouch|AirTouch Communications]], announced it was going to implement CDMA-based services<ref name="bw3" /> on networks in 15 states.<ref name="LemstraHayes2010" /> By this time, 11 out of 14 of the world's largest networks supported CDMA.<ref name="bw3" /><ref name="economist">{{Cite news |date=July 29, 1995 |title=Shorts circuited: cellular phones. (US cellular telephone industry backs Qualcomm's code-division multiple access technology) |work=The Economist (US) |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17388504.html |access-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224171058/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 1997 CDMA had 57 percent of the US market, whereas 14 percent of the market was on TDMA.<ref name="bw3" />

====International====
In 1991, Qualcomm and the [[Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute]] (ETRI) agreed to jointly develop CDMA technologies for the Korean telecommunications infrastructure.<ref name="Reddick2012">{{Cite book |last=Reddick |first=Christopher G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-VVYRvSafYC |title=Cases on Public Information Management and E-Government Adoption |publisher=IGI Global Snippet |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4666-0982-2 |page=225 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211553/https://books.google.com/books?id=r-VVYRvSafYC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pacific2004">{{Cite book |last=United Nations. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N4AQ453g_voC&pg=PA64 |title=Good Practices in Information and Communication Technology Policies in Asia and the Pacific |publisher=United Nations Publications |year=2004 |isbn=978-92-1-120412-4 |pages=64 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819150515/https://books.google.com/books?id=N4AQ453g_voC&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }}</ref> A CDMA standard was adopted as the national wireless standard in Korea in May 1993<ref name="Mock2005" /> with commercial CDMA networks being launched in 1996.<ref name="Pacific2004" /><ref name="Reddick2012" /> CDMA networks were also launched in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, India, and Venezuela.<ref name="DrakeWilson2008">{{Cite book |last1=Drake |first1=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vw2mAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |title=Governing Global Electronic Networks: International Perspectives on Policy and Power |last2=Wilson |first2=Ernest |date=December 5, 2008 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-30931-8 |pages=167 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820005022/https://books.google.com/books?id=vw2mAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HarperBuress2008">{{Cite book |last1=Harper |first1=Alvin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tG3wJZtq8PgC&pg=PA48 |title=Mobile Telephones: Networks, Applications, and Performance |last2=Buress |first2=Raymond |publisher=Nova Publishers |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-60456-436-5 |pages=48 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819230148/https://books.google.com/books?id=tG3wJZtq8PgC&pg=PA48 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm entered the Russian and Latin American markets in 2005.<ref name="Mock2005" /> By 2007, Qualcomm's technology was in cell phone networks in more than 105 countries.<ref name="DrakeWilson2008" /> Qualcomm also formed licensing agreements with [[Nokia]] in Europe, [[Nortel]] in Canada, and with [[Matsushita Electric|Matsushita]] and [[Mitsubishi]] in Japan.<ref name="Steinbock2003" />

Qualcomm entered the Chinese market through a partnership with [[China Unicom]] in 2000,<ref name="Steinbock2003" /> which launched the first CDMA-based network in China in 2003.<ref name="HarperBuress2008" /> China became a major market for Qualcomm's semiconductor products, representing more than fifty percent of its revenues,<ref name="reutreur">{{Cite news |last1=Carsten |first1=Paul |last2=Martina |first2=Michael |date=July 24, 2014 |title=China regulator determines Qualcomm has monopoly: state-run newspaper |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-china-idUSKBN0FT0AU20140724 |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=December 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225230551/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-china-idUSKBN0FT0AU20140724 |url-status=live }}</ref> but also the source of many legal disputes regarding Qualcomm's intellectual property.<ref name="wsjsj" /> By 2007, $500 million of Qualcomm's annual revenues were coming from Korean manufacturers.<ref name="OhLarson2011">{{Cite book |last1=Oh |first1=Myung |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZpdqhsPHnQC&pg=PA97 |title=Digital Development in Korea: Building an Information Society |last2=Larson |first2=James |date=March 14, 2011 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-81313-9 |pages=97 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819171647/https://books.google.com/books?id=OZpdqhsPHnQC&pg=PA97 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Manufacturing====
Initially, Qualcomm's manufacturing operations were limited to a small ASIC design and manufacturing team to support the Omnitracs system.<ref name="Mock2005" /> Qualcomm was forced to expand into manufacturing in the 1990s in order to produce the hardware carriers needed to implement CDMA networks that used Qualcomm's intellectual property.<ref name="Mock2005" /> Qualcomm's first large manufacturing project was in May 1993, in a deal to provide 36,000 CDMA phones to [[US West]].<ref name="Mock2005" /><ref name="Chen2007" />

For a time, Qualcomm experienced delays and other manufacturing problems, because it was inexperienced with mass manufacturing.<ref name="Steinbock2003" /> In 1994, Qualcomm partnered with [[Northern Telecom]] and formed a joint partnership with [[Sony]], in order to leverage their manufacturing expertise.<ref name="Klemens2010" /> [[Nokia]], [[Samsung]] and [[Motorola]] introduced their own CDMA phones in 1997.<ref name="Klemens2010">{{Cite book |last=Klemens |first=Guy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WNnM7iZF_QC&pg=PA131 |title=The Cellphone: The History and Technology of the Gadget That Changed the World |date=September 9, 2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5996-4 |pages=131–132 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902211015/https://books.google.com/books?id=3WNnM7iZF_QC&pg=PA131 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm's manufacturing business was losing money due to large capital equipment costs and declining prices caused by competition.<ref name="Klemens2010" /><ref name="BlaxillEckardt2009" /><ref name="Mock2005" /> Also, in March 1997, after Qualcomm introduced its Q phone, Motorola initiated a lawsuit (settled out of court in 2000) for allegedly copying the design of its Startac phone.<ref name="Inc.1997">{{Cite book |last=Ferranti |first=Marc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |title=Motorola claims patent infringement by Qualcomm |date=March 24, 1997 |series=InfoWorld |page=44 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145722/https://books.google.com/books?id=MToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferranti |first=Marc |date=March 24, 1997 |title=Motorola claims patent infringement by Qualcomm |work=Infoworld}}</ref>

In December 1999, Qualcomm sold its manufacturing interests to Kyocera Corporation, a Japanese CDMA manufacturer and Qualcomm licensee.<ref name="pike">{{Cite news |last=Wirbel |first=Loring |date=December 22, 1999 |title=Qualcomm sells CDMA phone division to Kyocera |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1230103 |access-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043546/https://www.eetimes.com/qualcomm-sells-cdma-phone-division-to-kyocera/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1999 |title=Qualcomm, Kyocera strike deal for handset business |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1124095 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043535/https://www.eetimes.com/qualcomm-kyocera-strike-deal-for-handset-business/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm's infrastructure division was sold to competitor Ericsson in 1999 as part of an out-of-court agreement for a CDMA patent dispute that started in 1996.<ref name="thirteen">{{Cite news |last=Alleven |first=Monica |date=November 29, 1999 |title=Ericsson Tangles With Qualcomm |work=Wireless Week |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2587634/ericsson-tangles-qualcomm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135238/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2587634/ericsson-tangles-qualcomm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1999 |title=Wireless giants get connected |publisher=The Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&amp;dat=19990326&amp;id=NVBYAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=DY4DAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4436,2341517 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224102521/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19990326&id=NVBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DY4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4436,2341517 |url-status=live }}</ref> The sale of the infrastructure division marked the beginning of an increase in Qualcomm's stock price and stronger financial performance, but many of the 1,200 employees involved were discontented working for a competitor and losing their stock options.<ref name="thirteen" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Alleven |first=Monica |date=May 8, 2000 |title=Qualcomm, Unhappy Employees Try Mediation |work=Wireless Week |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3106407/qualcomm-unhappy-employees-try-mediation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134805/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/3106407/qualcomm-unhappy-employees-try-mediation |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> This led to a protracted legal dispute regarding employee stock options, resulting in $74 million in settlements by 2005.<ref name="Mock2005" />

===3G===
3G standards were expected to force prior TDMA carriers onto CDMA, in order to meet 3G bandwidth goals.<ref name="BlaxillEckardt2009" /><ref name="Drake(III.)2008">{{Cite book |last1=Drake |first1=William J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5A2mAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA166 |title=Governing Global Electronic Networks: International Perspectives on Policy and Power |last2=Ernest J. Wilson (III.) |date=December 5, 2008 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-04251-2 |pages=166 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907195049/https://books.google.com/books?id=5A2mAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA166 |url-status=live }}</ref> The two largest GSM manufacturers, Nokia and Ericsson, advocated for a greater role for GSM,<ref name="TaplinWakui2006">{{Cite book |last1=Taplin |first1=Ruth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C6Z-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA124 |title=Japanese Telecommunications: Market and Policy in Transition |last2=Wakui |first2=Masako |date=February 1, 2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-20815-9 |pages=124 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930003446/https://books.google.com/books?id=C6Z-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA124 |url-status=live }}</ref> in order to negotiate lower royalty prices from Qualcomm.<ref name="Drake(III.)2008" /> In 1998, the [[European Telecommunications Standards Institute]] (ETSI) voted in support of the WCDMA standard, which relied less on Qualcomm's CDMA patents.<ref name="Association2010">{{Cite book |last=Information Resources Management Association |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DYWB5nMjB38C&pg=PA240 |title=Networking and Telecommunications: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications |date=January 2010 |publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI) |isbn=978-1-60566-987-8 |pages=240 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819040840/https://books.google.com/books?id=DYWB5nMjB38C&pg=PA240 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm responded by refusing to license its intellectual property for the standard.<ref name="Drake(III.)2008" />

The [[Telecommunications Industry Association]] (TIA) and the [[3rd Generation Partnership Project 2|Third Generation Partnership Program 2]] (3GPP2), advocated for a competing CDMA-2000 standard developed primarily by Qualcomm.<ref name="ChenGuizani2006">{{Cite book |last1=Hsiao-Hwa Chen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MVEaQ7TRBTMC&pg=PA122 |title=Next Generation Wireless Systems and Networks |last2=Guizani |first2=Mohsen |date=May 1, 2006 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-02435-5 |pages=122 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819145927/https://books.google.com/books?id=MVEaQ7TRBTMC&pg=PA122 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Unhelkar2006">{{Cite book |last=Unhelkar |first=Bhuvan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvHcyXDzu4oC&pg=PA150 |title=Handbook of Research in Mobile Business: Technical, Methodological and Social Perspectives |date=January 1, 2006 |publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI) |isbn=978-1-59140-818-5 |pages=150 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819125324/https://books.google.com/books?id=IvHcyXDzu4oC&pg=PA150 |url-status=live }}</ref> American and European politicians advocated for the CDMA-2000 and WCDMA standards respectively.<ref name="Mock2005" /><ref name="Drake(III.)2008" /> The ITU said it would exclude Qualcomm's CDMA technology from the 3G standards entirely if a patent dispute over the technology with Ericsson was not resolved.<ref name="Mock2005" /><ref name="Lennon2007" /> The two reached an agreement out-of-court in 1999, one month before a deadline set by the ITU. Both companies agreed to cross-license their technology to each other<ref name="Lennon2007">{{Cite book |last=Lennon |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i3MLYUjRWisC&pg=SA1-PA31 |title=Drafting Technology Patent License Agreements |publisher=Aspen Publishers Online |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7355-6748-1 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819120901/https://books.google.com/books?id=i3MLYUjRWisC&pg=SA1-PA31 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|30}} and to work together on 3G standards.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gohring |first=Nancy |date=March 29, 1999 |title=Ericsson/Qualcomm bitter feud ends |work=Telephony |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2183790/ericsson-qualcomm-bitter-feud-ends |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806164825/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2183790/ericsson-qualcomm-bitter-feud-ends |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref>

A compromise was eventually reached whereby the ITU would initially endorse three standards: CDMA2000 1X, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA.<ref name="Drake(III.)2008" /> Qualcomm agreed to license its CDMA patents for variants such as WCDMA.<ref name="Drake(III.)2008" /> There were 240 million CDMA 3G subscribers by 2004 and 143 carriers in 67 countries by 2005.<ref name="Chen2007" /> Qualcomm claimed to own 38 percent of WCDMA's essential patents, whereas European GSM interests sponsored a research paper alleging Qualcomm only owned 19 percent.<ref name="BlaxillEckardt2009" />

Qualcomm consolidated its interests in telecommunications carriers, such as [[Cricket Communications]] and [[Pegaso]] into a holding company, [[Leap Wireless]], in 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gaither |first=Chris |date=July 25, 2001 |title=Qualcomm Calls Off a Spinoff and Realigns Management |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/25/business/technology-qualcomm-calls-off-a-spinoff-and-realigns-management.html |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914193325/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/25/business/technology-qualcomm-calls-off-a-spinoff-and-realigns-management.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Steinbock2003" /> Leap was spun-off later that year<ref name="jkopys" /> and sold to [[AT&T]] in 2014.<ref name="jkopys">{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=March 9, 2014 |title=Leap Wireless Reports $640.8M Loss for 2013 as Sale to AT&T Looms |work=San Diego Business Journal |url=http://sdbj.com/news/2014/mar/09/leap-wireless-reports-6408m-loss-2013-sale-t-looms/ |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806162333/http://sdbj.com/news/2014/mar/09/leap-wireless-reports-6408m-loss-2013-sale-t-looms/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===4G===
Qualcomm initially advocated for the CDMA-based [[Ultra Mobile Broadband]] (UMB) standard for fourth generation wireless networks.<ref name="Unhelkar2009">{{Cite book |last=Unhelkar |first=Bhuvan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OPXZFkBzvd8C&pg=PA132 |title=Mobile Enterprise Transition and Management |date=June 25, 2009 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4200-7828-2 |pages=132 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819170649/https://books.google.com/books?id=OPXZFkBzvd8C&pg=PA132 |url-status=live }}</ref> UMB wasn't backwards compatible with prior CDMA networks and didn't operate as well in narrow bandwidths as the LTE (long-term evolution) standard. No cellular networks adopted UMB.<ref name="Cox2012">{{Cite book |last=Cox |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q04NlHWgnfYC&pg=PA16 |title=An Introduction to LTE: LTE, LTE-Advanced, SAE and 4G Mobile Communications |date=February 28, 2012 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-94281-8 |pages=16 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819200517/https://books.google.com/books?id=q04NlHWgnfYC&pg=PA16 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm halted development of UMB in 2005 and decided to support the LTE standard,<ref name="Korhonen2014">{{Cite book |last=Korhonen |first=Juha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lutPAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |title=Introduction to 4G Mobile Communications |date=March 1, 2014 |publisher=Artech House |isbn=978-1-60807-699-4 |pages=26 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819143008/https://books.google.com/books?id=lutPAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carew |first=Sinead |date=November 13, 2008 |title=Qualcomm halts UMB project, sees no major job cuts |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-umb-idUSTRE4AC7M720081113 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043518/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-umb-idUSTRE4AC7M720081113 |url-status=live }}</ref> even though it didn't rely as heavily on Qualcomm patents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hempel |first=Jessi |date=June 24, 2009 |title=What's next for Qualcomm? |work=Fortune Magazine |url=http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2009/06/23/technology/qualcomm_wireless_chips_new_gadgets.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009062406 |access-date=August 10, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Then, Qualcomm purchased LTE-related patents through acquisitions.<ref name="Coll2013">{{Cite book |last=Coll |first=Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jZPTNW--k40C&pg=PA115 |title=Telecom, Datacom and Networking for Non-Engineers: Reference Book – CTNS Study Guide |date=September 9, 2013 |publisher=Teracom Training Institute |isbn=978-1-894887-05-2 |pages=115 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819133851/https://books.google.com/books?id=jZPTNW--k40C&pg=PA115 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2012, Qualcomm held 81 seminal patents used in 4G LTE standards, or 12.46 percent.<ref name="Reed 2012">{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Brad |date=April 26, 2012 |title=Watch out Apple: Samsung, Qualcomm positioned to dominate LTE patent wars |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/708912/wireless-watch-out-apple-samsung-qualcomm-positioned-to-dominate-lte-patent-wars.html |access-date=October 29, 2015 |website=Network World |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426185127/https://www.networkworld.com/article/708912/wireless-watch-out-apple-samsung-qualcomm-positioned-to-dominate-lte-patent-wars.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Qualcomm also became more focused on using its intellectual property to manufacture semiconductors in a [[fabless manufacturing]] model.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yoshida |first=Junko |date=July 11, 2014 |title=Casualty is not Qualcomm but Broadcom |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1323072 |access-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716113950/http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1323072 |url-status=live }}</ref> A VLSI Technology Organization division was founded in 2004, followed by a DFX group in 2006, which did more of the manufacturing design in-house.<ref name="eetimesss">{{Cite news |last=LaPedus |first=Mark |date=November 27, 2006 |title=Fabless Qualcomm zooms to next node |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1164472 |access-date=July 28, 2014}}</ref> Qualcomm announced it was developing the [[Scorpion (CPU)|Scorpion]] [[central processing unit]] (CPU) for mobile devices in November 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 4, 2007 |title=Snapdragon seeds Qualcomm's future |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1247637 |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223105445/https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1247637 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="djabnf">{{Cite news |last=BDTI |date=December 5, 2007 |title=Analysis: Qualcomm's 1 GHz ARM "Snapdragon" |publisher=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1275485 |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223105350/https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1275485 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed by the first shipments of the [[Snapdragon (system on chip)|Snapdragon]] system-on-chip product, which includes a CPU, GPS, graphics processing unit, camera support and other software and semiconductors,<ref name="extreme">{{Cite news |last=Whitwam |first=Ryan |date=August 26, 2011 |title=How Qualcomm's Snapdragon ARM chips are unique |publisher=ExtremeTech |url=http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/94064-how-qualcomms-snapdragon-arm-chips-are-unique |access-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804165556/https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/94064-how-qualcomms-snapdragon-arm-chips-are-unique |url-status=live }}</ref> in November 2007.<ref name="cnet">{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=February 3, 2009 |title=Toshiba handheld hits 1GHz with 'Snapdragon' |publisher=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/toshiba-handheld-hits-1ghz-with-snapdragon/ |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207202734/https://www.cnet.com/news/toshiba-handheld-hits-1ghz-with-snapdragon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Gobi]] family of modems for portable devices was released in 2008.<ref name="giz announcement">{{Cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Matt |title=Qualcomm Gobi 3G Chip Goes Both Ways: EV-DO or HSDPA |publisher=gizmodo.com |url=https://gizmodo.com/#!314704/qualcomm-gobi-3g-chip-goes-both-ways-ev+do-or-hsdpa |access-date=February 2, 2011 |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314004423/http://gizmodo.com/#!314704/qualcomm-gobi-3g-chip-goes-both-ways-ev+do-or-hsdpa |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="engadget announcement">{{Cite web |last=Murph |first=Darren |date=October 24, 2007 |title=Qualcomm's dual-3G Gobi chip handles EV-DO and HSPA – Engadget |url=http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/24/qualcomms-dual-3g-gobi-chip-handles-ev-do-and-hspa/ |access-date=February 11, 2011 |publisher=engadget.com |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628181042/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/24/qualcomms-dual-3g-gobi-chip-handles-ev-do-and-hspa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Gobi modems were embedded in many laptop brands<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hamblen |first=Matt |date=April 1, 2008 |title=Qualcomm's new Gobi: A WiMax and Wi-Fi killer? |work=Computerworld |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9073838/Qualcomm_s_new_Gobi_A_WiMax_and_Wi_Fi_killer_ |access-date=August 18, 2014 |archive-date=June 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605134940/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9073838/Qualcomm_s_new_Gobi_A_WiMax_and_Wi_Fi_killer_ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Panasonic taps Qualcomm Gobi for broadband data |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1169259 |access-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> and Snapdragon system on chips were embedded into most Android devices.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Qualcomm to buy Atheros for $3.2 billion |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010506338.html |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211000439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010506338.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Qualcomm won a government auction in India in 2010 for $1 billion in spectrum and licenses from which to offer broadband services. It formed four joint ventures with Indian holding companies for this purpose. A 49 percent stake in the holding companies was acquired by [[Bharti Enterprises|Bharti]] in May 2012 and the remaining was acquired in October 2012<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishna |first=Jai |date=October 18, 2013 |title=Qualcomm Exits India Broadband Venture |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304864504579143020414211610 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122235520/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304864504579143020414211610 |url-status=live }}</ref> by AT&T.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=Dan |date=March 14, 2014 |title=AT&T closes on Leap acquisition, with conditions |publisher=RCR Wireless |url=http://www.rcrwireless.com/20140314/carriers/att-closes-on-leap-acquisition-with-conditions |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=October 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003192114/http://www.rcrwireless.com/20140314/carriers/att-closes-on-leap-acquisition-with-conditions |url-status=live }}</ref>

===5G===
According to ''Fortune Magazine'', Qualcomm has been developing technologies for future 5G standards in three areas: radios that would use bandwidth from any network it has access to, creating larger ranges of spectrum by combining smaller pieces, and a set of services for [[Internet of things]] applications.<ref name="Higginbotham 2015">{{Cite news |last=Higginbotham |first=Stacey |date=October 14, 2015 |title=Qualcomm readies itself for 5G with these 3 tech breakthroughs |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2015/10/14/qualcomm-5g/ |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061951/http://fortune.com/2015/10/14/qualcomm-5g/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm's first 5G modem chip was announced in October 2016<ref name="Captain 2016">{{Cite web |last=Captain |first=Sean |date=October 18, 2016 |title=The Wild Technology That Will Make 5G Wireless Work |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3064144/the-wild-technology-that-will-make-5g-wireless-work |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=Fast Company |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108014655/https://www.fastcompany.com/3064144/the-wild-technology-that-will-make-5g-wireless-work |url-status=live }}</ref> and a prototype was demonstrated in October 2017.<ref name="BBC News 2017">{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2017 |title=5G high-speed data 'milestone' claimed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41652967 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=BBC News |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727005021/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41652967 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm's first 5G antennas were announced in July 2018.<ref name="Smith 2018">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ryan |date=July 23, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Announces Their First 5G mmWave Antenna Module: QTM052, Coming This Year |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/13106/qualcomm-announces-their-first-5g-mmwave-antenna-module-qtm052-coming-this-year |access-date=September 2, 2018 |website=AnandTech |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031440/https://www.anandtech.com/show/13106/qualcomm-announces-their-first-5g-mmwave-antenna-module-qtm052-coming-this-year |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of 2018, Qualcomm had partnerships with 19 mobile device manufacturers and 18 carriers to commercialize 5G technology.<ref name="Horwitz 2018">{{Cite web |last=Horwitz |first=Jeremy |date=February 8, 2018 |title=Qualcomm signs 19 phone makers and 18 carriers for global 5G launches in 2019 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/08/qualcomm-signs-19-phone-makers-and-18-carriers-for-global-5g-launches-in-2019/ |access-date=October 1, 2018 |website=VentureBeat |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921170728/https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/08/qualcomm-signs-19-phone-makers-and-18-carriers-for-global-5g-launches-in-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By late 2019, several phones were being sold with Qualcomm's 5G technology incorporated.<ref name="Nellis 2019">{{Cite web |last=Nellis |first=Stephen |date=September 6, 2019 |title=Qualcomm-Samsung axis brings 5G to the masses as Huawei struggles |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-5g-idUSKCN1VR1HT |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=U.S. |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806162943/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-5g-idUSKCN1VR1HT |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Software and other technology==
===Early software===
Qualcomm acquired an email application called [[Eudora (email client)|Eudora]] in 1991.<ref name="merc">{{Cite news |last=Langberg |first=Mike |date=February 27, 2000 |title=Technology Testdrive Column |work=San Jose Mercury News}}</ref> By 1996, Eudora was installed on 63 percent of PCs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grad |first=Peter |date=November 25, 1996 |title=Utilities get with the e-mail program |work=The Record}}</ref> [[Microsoft Outlook]] eclipsed Eudora, since it was provided for free by default on Windows-based machines.<ref name="aplip">{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2006 |title=Good-Bye Eudora |publisher=Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20061021&id=-HFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3308,1348487 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225081334/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20061021&id=-HFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3308,1348487 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2003 Qualcomm's Eudora was the most popular alternative to Microsoft Outlook, but still had only a five percent share of the market.<ref name="alt">{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2003 |title=Alternativees can liberate you form Microsoft e-mail software |work=Dallas Morning News |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=20030901&id=xrRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307,428729 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227103247/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=20030901&id=xrRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307,428729 |url-status=live }}</ref> Software development for Eudora was retired in 2006.<ref name="aplip" />

In 2001, Qualcomm introduced [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|Brew]], a smartphone app development service<ref name="whatisbrew">{{Cite news |last=Rouse |first=Margaret |title=BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) |publisher=TechTarget |url=http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/BREW |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129141203/https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/BREW |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Etoh2005" /><ref name="daghniouhd">{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Kelly |date=April 16, 2001 |title=A fresh outlook on 3G |work=Telephony |url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/mag/telecom_fresh_outlook/ |access-date=August 10, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with APIs to access contacts, billing, app-stores, or multimedia on the phone.<ref name="Etoh2005">{{Cite book |last=Etoh |first=Minoru |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3R-Hc106lb8C&pg=PA199 |title=Next Generation Mobile Systems: 3G & Beyond |date=August 5, 2005 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-09152-4 |pages=199 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902224047/https://books.google.com/books?id=3R-Hc106lb8C&pg=PA199 |url-status=live }}</ref> South Korean carrier KTFreeTel was the first to adopt the Brew system in November 2001, followed by Verizon in March 2002<ref>{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Brad |date=March 18, 2002 |title=Qualcomm Unveils its new BREW |url=http://san-diego-business-journal.vlex.com/vid/qualcomm-brew-verizon-nationwide-rollout-54435867 |access-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227212057/https://san-diego-business-journal.vlex.com/vid/qualcomm-brew-verizon-nationwide-rollout-54435867 |url-status=live }}</ref> for its "Get it Now" program. There were 2.5 million Brew users by the end of 2002 and 73 million in 2003.<ref name="Chen2007" />

===Other technology===
In 2004, Qualcomm created a [[MediaFLO]] subsidiary to bring its FLO (forward link only) specification to market. Qualcomm built an $800 million MediaFLO network of cell towers to supplement carrier networks with one that is designed for multimedia.<ref name="yugdtsuobdajf">{{Cite news |last=Fitchard |first=Kevin |date=November 8, 2004 |title=Qualcomm Re-Imagines Mobile Media |work=Connected Planet |url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/mag/telecom_qualcomm_reimagines_mobile/ |access-date=August 9, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=November 2, 2004 |title=Qualcomm Invests In TV Broadcasts Over Cellphones |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB109935045322361616 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604163251/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109935045322361616 |url-status=live }}</ref> In comparison to cellular towers that provide two-way communications with each cell phone individually, MediaFLO towers would broadcast multimedia content to mobile phones in a one-way broadcast.<ref name="dajobiurebv">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Karen |date=February 27, 2007 |title=Go with the FLO? |work=Wireless Week |url=http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2007/02/go-w-ith-flo |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225022030/https://www.5gtechnologyworld.com/wirelessweek-signup/?utm_source=wirelessweek&utm_medium=url&utm_campaign=WirelessWeek&utm_term=WWW |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="apdia">{{Cite news |date=December 1, 2005 |title=Verizon to offer broadcast TV over cell phones |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10286552 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103142639/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10286552#.U-fTQ4BdWxE |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also sold FLO-based semiconductors and licenses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fitchard |first=Kevin |date=September 26, 2005 |title=TV wars go wireless |work=Telephony}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Brad |date=November 2004 |title=Qualcomm Eyes Programming For Phones |work=San Diego Business Journal |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/15075230/qualcomm-eyes-programming-phones |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806234940/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/15075230/qualcomm-eyes-programming-phones |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

Qualcomm created the FLO Forum standards group with 15 industry participants in July 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Merritt |first=Rick |date=September 12, 2005 |title=Mobile-TV on-ramp under construction – But lack of chip sets, profusion of net options could bring delays |work=Electronic Engineering Times |url=http://business.highbeam.com/3094/article-1G1-136081199/mobiletv-ramp-under-construction-but-lack-chip-sets |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135852/https://www.questia.com/hbr-welcome |url-status=dead }}</ref> Verizon was the first carrier to partner with MediaFlo in December 2005<ref name="apdia" /> for its Verizon Wireless' V Cast TV,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |date=January 7, 2007 |title=Verizon offers live TV on cell phones |publisher=CNET |url=http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-offers-live-TV-on-cell-phones/2100-1039_3-6147908.html |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228001631/https://www.cnet.com/news/verizon-offers-live-tv-on-cell-phones/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which was followed by the AT&T Mobile TV service a couple months later.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawson |first=Stephen |date=March 28, 2008 |title=AT&T's MediaFLO TV coming in May |publisher=IDG |url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2285013/network-security/at-t-s-mediaflo-tv-coming-in-may.html |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519175449/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2285013/network-security/at-t-s-mediaflo-tv-coming-in-may.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Svensson |first=Peter |title=AT&T airs TV service on new phones |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4773117 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806193552/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4773117 |url-status=live }}</ref> The MediaFlo service was launched on Super Bowl Sunday in 2007.<ref name="unique13">{{Cite magazine |last=Ganapati |first=Priya |date=October 5, 2010 |title=Qualcomm Suspends Flo Mobile TV Sales |magazine=WIRED |url=http://www.wired.com/2010/10/qualcomm-cancels-flo-tv/ |access-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224223022/https://www.wired.com/2010/10/qualcomm-cancels-flo-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the interest the service got among carriers, it was unpopular among consumers.<ref name="unique13" /><ref name="gigaomyud" /><ref name="uniquename" /> The service required users to pay for a subscription and have phones that were equipped with special semiconductors.<ref name="gigaomyud">{{Cite news |last=Kitchard |first=Kevin |date=April 9, 2014 |title=Why Qualcomm thinks LTE-broadcast will work where FLO TV failed |publisher=Giga Om |url=http://gigaom.com/2013/04/09/why-qualcomm-thinks-lte-broadcast-will-work-where-flo-tv-failed/ |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025232506/https://gigaom.com/2013/04/09/why-qualcomm-thinks-lte-broadcast-will-work-where-flo-tv-failed/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="uniquename" /> The service was discontinued in 2011 and its spectrum was sold to AT&T for $1.93 billion.<ref name="gigaomyud" /><ref name="uniquename">{{Cite news |last=Frommer |first=Dan |date=July 22, 2010 |title=Qualcomm Wants To Dump "MediaFLO" Mobile TV Business No One Watches |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/qualcomm-wants-to-dump-its-mediaflo-mobile-tv-business-2010-7#ixzz39wzl7jAE |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302091200/http://www.businessinsider.com/qualcomm-wants-to-dump-its-mediaflo-mobile-tv-business-2010-7#ixzz39wzl7jAE |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm rebooted the effort in 2013 with LTE Broadcast, which uses pre-existing cell towers to broadcast select content locally on a dedicated spectrum, such as during major sporting events.<ref name="gigaomyud" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawson |first=Stephen |date=March 19, 2013 |title=LTE broadcast may help Qualcomm salvage Flo TV |work=PC World |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2030367/lte-broadcast-may-help-qualcomm-salvage-flo-tv.html |access-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920091908/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2030367/lte-broadcast-may-help-qualcomm-salvage-flo-tv.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Based on technology acquired from Iridigm in 2004 for $170 million,<ref name="cnn">{{Cite web |last=Watters |first=Ethan |date=June 12, 2007 |title=Product design, nature's way |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/06/01/100050991/ |website=CNNMoney |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602215409/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/06/01/100050991/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm began commercializing [[Interferometric modulator display|Mirasol]] displays in 2007, which was expanded into eight products in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Brad |date=June 9, 2008 |title=Qualcomm Screens Pack Visual Punch With Scant Power |work=San Diego Business Journal}}</ref> Mirasol uses natural light shining on a screen to provide lighting for the display, rather a backlight, in order to reduce power consumption.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Cliff |date=April 28, 2010 |title=Qualcomm's Bright Low-Power Screen |work=Businessweek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2010-04-28/qualcomms-bright-low-power-screen |access-date=October 24, 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The amount of space between the surface of the display and a mirror within a 10 micron-wide "interferometric modulator" determines the color of the reflected light.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simonite |first=Tom |date=November 15, 2011 |title=E-Reader Display Shows Vibrant Color Video |work=Technology Review |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/426120/e-reader-display-shows-vibrant-color-video/ |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908200929/http://www.technologyreview.com/news/426120/e-reader-display-shows-vibrant-color-video/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mirasol was eventually closed down after an attempt to revive it in 2013 in Toq watches.<ref name="Captain 2017">{{Cite web |last=Captain |first=Sean |date=January 10, 2017 |title=The Everything Chip: Qualcomm's Plan To Power Drones, VR, Cars, PCs, And More |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3066849/qualcomm-drones-vr-cars-satellites |access-date=January 21, 2020 |website=Fast Company |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231023944/https://www.fastcompany.com/3066849/qualcomm-drones-vr-cars-satellites |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In June 2011, Qualcomm introduced [[AllJoyn]], a wireless standard for communicating between devices like cell phones, televisions, air-conditioners, and refrigerators.<ref name="alljoynnww">{{Cite news |last=Neagle |first=Colin |title=A guide to the confusing Internet of Things standards world |work=Network World |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/927234/internet-of-things-a-guide-to-the-confusing-internet-of-things-standards-world.html |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124040401/https://www.networkworld.com/article/927234/internet-of-things-a-guide-to-the-confusing-internet-of-things-standards-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="oneilyady">{{Cite news |last=Hunter |first=Leah |date=6 January 2014|title=At CES, the Internet of Everything will Speak Alljoyn |work=Fast Company |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3024203/innovation-agents/at-ces-the-internet-of-everything-will-be-powered-by-alljoyn |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=April 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417172247/http://www.fastcompany.com/3024203/innovation-agents/at-ces-the-internet-of-everything-will-be-powered-by-alljoyn |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="FitzekKatz2013">{{Cite book |last1=Fitzek |first1=Frank H. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmlXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT211 |title=Mobile Clouds: Exploiting Distributed Resources in Wireless, Mobile and Social Networks |last2=Katz |first2=Marcos D. |date=December 11, 2013 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-80140-6 |pages=211 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819132828/https://books.google.com/books?id=jmlXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT211 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Alljoyn technology was donated to the [[Linux Foundation]] in December 2013. Qualcomm and the Linux Foundation then formed the Allseen Alliance to administer the standard<ref name="alljoynnww" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Brad |date=January 6, 2014 |title=Internet of Things Set to Bring Lots of Connections, Opportunity |work=San Diego Business Journal}}</ref> and Qualcomm developed products that used the AllJoyn standard<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shinal |first=John |title=Qualcomm's smartwatch is Toq of the town |work=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedition/2013-09-05-Qualcomm-is-seeding-market-for-wearable-devices_ST_U.htm |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227225305/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedition/2013-09-05-Qualcomm-is-seeding-market-for-wearable-devices_ST_U.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 26, 2013 |title=Qualcomm's Toq Smartwatch Needs More Time |author-last1=Cha|author-first1=Bonnie|publisher=AllThingsD |url=http://allthingsd.com/20131226/qualcomms-toq-smartwatch-needs-more-time/ |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224014909/http://allthingsd.com/20131226/qualcomms-toq-smartwatch-needs-more-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Randewich |first=Noel |date=August 5, 2014 |title=Timex launches smartwatch with Qualcomm technology |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-timex-qualcomm-idUSKBN0G600520140806 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226165719/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-timex-qualcomm-idUSKBN0G600520140806 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2011, Qualcomm formed a healthcare subsidiary called Qualcomm Life. Simultaneously, the subsidiary released a cloud-based service for managing clinical data called 2net and the Qualcomm Life Fund, which invests in wireless healthcare technology companies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 8, 2011 |title=Qualcomm Subsidiary Focuses on Mobile Medical Data |author-first1=Nicole|author-last1=Lewis|work=InformationWeek |url=http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/qualcomm-subsidiary-focuses-on-mobile-medical-data/d/d-id/1101744? |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224181317/https://www.informationweek.com/mobile/qualcomm-subsidiary-focuses-on-mobile-medical-data/d/d-id/1101744 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Brian |title=Qualcomm Launches Mobile Health Company, New Cloud Medical Data Platform |work=eWeek |url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Health-Care-IT/Qualcomm-Launches-Mobile-Health-Company-New-Cloud-Medical-Data-Platform-435345/ }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The subsidiary doubled its employee-count by acquiring HealthyCircles Inc., a healthcare IT company, the following May.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keshavan |first=Meghana |date=March 11, 2013 |title=Qualcomm Acquires medical Software Maker |work=San Diego Business Journal}}</ref> Qualcomm life was later sold to a private equity firm, Francisco Partners, in 2019.<ref name="MobiHealthNews 2019">{{Cite web |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Qualcomm Life acquired by PE firm Francisco Partners, will spin off under new name |url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/qualcomm-life-acquired-pe-firm-francisco-partners-will-spin-under-new-name |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=MobiHealthNews |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816231110/https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/qualcomm-life-acquired-pe-firm-francisco-partners-will-spin-under-new-name |url-status=live |author-first1=Jonah|author-last1=Comstock|publisher=HIMSS Media}}</ref>

===Developments since 2016===
In 2016, Qualcomm developed its first beta processor chip for servers and PCs called "Server Development Platform" and sent samples for testing.<ref name="dalihgeahrocin">{{Cite news |last=Tilley |first=Aaron |date=December 7, 2016 |title=Qualcomm Launches The First 10nm Server Chip |work=Forbes |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2016/12/07/qualcomm-launches-the-first-10nm-server-chip/#50f9ae034b62 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224205245/https://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2016/12/07/qualcomm-launches-the-first-10nm-server-chip/#50f9ae034b62 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2017, a second generation data center and PC server chip called Centriq 2400 was released.<ref name="dalihgeahrocin" /> ''PC Magazine'' said the release was "historic" for Qualcomm, because it was a new market segment for the company.<ref name="Shah 2016">{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Agam |date=December 12, 2016 |title=Sleeping giant Qualcomm awakens with aim to crush Intel at its own game |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3149749/components-processors/sleeping-giant-qualcomm-awakens-with-aim-to-crush-intel-at-its-own-game.html |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=PCWorld |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813123655/http://www.pcworld.com/article/3149749/components-processors/sleeping-giant-qualcomm-awakens-with-aim-to-crush-intel-at-its-own-game.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also created a Qualcomm Datacenter Technologies subsidiary to focus on the PCs and servers market.<ref name="eWeek.com 2016">{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2016 |title=Qualcomm Names Upcoming Server Family Centriq |url=http://www.eweek.com/servers/qualcomm-names-upcoming-server-family-centriq.html |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=eWeek.com }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2017, Qualcomm introduced embedded technology for 3D cameras intended for augmented reality apps,<ref name="Captain 2017b">{{Cite news |last=Captain |first=Sean |date=August 15, 2017 |title=Qualcomm's New Camera Will Give Smartphones 3D Vision |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40451913/qualcomms-new-camera-will-give-smartphones-3d-vision |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021191926/https://www.fastcompany.com/40451913/qualcomms-new-camera-will-give-smartphones-3d-vision |url-status=live }}</ref> and also developed and demonstrated laptop processors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ian |date=December 5, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Takes Another Shot at Ending Intel PC Stranglehold |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/qualcomm-takes-another-shot-at-breaking-intel-pc-stranglehold |access-date=August 16, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209151103/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/qualcomm-takes-another-shot-at-breaking-intel-pc-stranglehold |url-status=live |url-access=registration }}</ref>

In 2000, Qualcomm formed a joint venture with [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] called Wingcast, which created [[telematics]] equipment for cars, but was unsuccessful and closed down two years later.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hyde |first=Justin |date=1 August 2001|title=Ford, Qualcomm form auto-telecom venture |publisher=The Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&amp;dat=20000801&amp;id=4oUNAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=aW8DAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=5050,221397 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224140210/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20000801&id=4oUNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aW8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5050,221397 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Mark |date=June 4, 2002 |title=Ford Grounds Its Wingcast Venture |work=Forbes |url=http://www.forbes.com/2002/06/04/0604telematics.html |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812192435/http://www.forbes.com/2002/06/04/0604telematics.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Charny |first=Ben |date=June 4, 2002 |title=Qualcomm grounds Wingcast venture |publisher=ZDNet |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/qualcomm-grounds-wingcast-venture/ |access-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317221825/https://www.zdnet.com/article/qualcomm-grounds-wingcast-venture/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm acquired the wireless electric car charging company, HaloIPT, in November 2011<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Catherine |date=November 10, 2011 |title=University sells off wireless technology |page=A.14 |work=The Press}}</ref> and later sold the company to WiTricity in February 2019.<ref name="Sawers 2019">{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=February 11, 2019 |title=WiTricity acquires Qualcomm Halo to accelerate wireless charging for electric vehicles |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/02/11/witricity-acquires-qualcomm-halo-to-accelerate-wireless-charging-for-electric-vehicles/ |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=VentureBeat |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131055239/https://venturebeat.com/2019/02/11/witricity-acquires-qualcomm-halo-to-accelerate-wireless-charging-for-electric-vehicles/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also started introducing Snapdragon system-on-chips<ref>{{Cite news |last=Niccolai |first=James |date=January 6, 2014 |title=Qualcomm brings its Snapdragon chip to the car |publisher=IDG News Service |url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320552&page_number=1 |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117000722/https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320552 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Gobi modems<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tibken |first=Shara |date=February 23, 2014 |title=Qualcomm launches 64-bit chips for high-end phones at MWC 2014 |publisher=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-launches-64-bit-chips-for-high-end-phones-at-mwc-2014/ |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919070443/https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-launches-64-bit-chips-for-high-end-phones-at-mwc-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and other software or semiconductor products for self-driving cars and modern in-car computers.<ref name="Velazco 2017">{{Cite web |last=Velazco |first=Chris |date=January 3, 2017 |title=Qualcomm wants to make smarter cars by sharing sensor data |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/03/qualcomm-wants-to-make-smarter-cars-by-sharing-sensor-data/ |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Engadget |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223212554/https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/03/qualcomm-wants-to-make-smarter-cars-by-sharing-sensor-data/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Condon 2017">{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Stephanie |date=August 31, 2017 |title=New Qualcomm auto chipset advances vehicle-to-everything communications |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-qualcomm-auto-chipset-advances-vehicle-to-everything-communications/ |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=ZDNet |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125223222/https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-qualcomm-auto-chipset-advances-vehicle-to-everything-communications/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, Qualcomm hired Baidu veteran, Nan Zhou, to head Qualcomm's push into AI.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.qualcommventures.com/team/nan-zhou/ |title=Nan Zhou |website=www.qualcommventures.com}}</ref>

In 2024, Qualcomm identified generative artificial intelligence as a key driver of market demand for its edge computing technology, with the company projecting a total addressable market of approximately $900 billion by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Resuma |first=Ann |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Qualcomm Targets $4B In PC Chip Sales, $22B Annual Revenue From New Markets By 2029 |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/qualcomm-targets-4b-pc-chip-sales-22b-annual-revenue-new-markets-2029-3751884 |website=International Business Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |via=Business Wire|date=November 20, 2024 |title=Qualcomm Sets New Growth Targets, Showcasing Company’s Opportunity as On-Device AI Accelerates Demand for its Technologies |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/qualcomm-sets-growth-targets-showcasing-220000997.html |work=Yahoo Finance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lahiri |first=Anusuya |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Qualcomm Targets $900 Billion Market by 2030: Big Bets on IoT and Automotive |url=https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42088437/qualcomm-targets-900-billion-market-by-2030-big-bets-on-iot-and-automotive |website=Benzinga}}</ref> In August 2024, Reuters reported that Qualcomm was among the clients of [[Contextual AI]], a company building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) agents for enterprise use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cai |first=Kenrick |date=August 1, 2024 |title=Contextual AI raises $80 mln for model-enhancing technique |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/contextual-ai-raises-80-mln-model-enhancing-technique-2024-08-01/ |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nuñez |first=Michael |date=March 4, 2025 |title=Contextual AI's new AI model crushes GPT-4o in accuracy — here's why it matters |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/contextual-ais-new-ai-model-crushes-gpt-4o-in-accuracy-heres-why-it-matters/ |website=VentureBeat}}</ref>

In October 2025, Qualcomm announced it was launching new AI accelerator chips meant to challenge [[Nvidia|NVIDIA]]'s dominant position in the space. The company said its first customer for its AI200 chips will be Humain—an AI company backed by [[Public Investment Fund|Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund]], which is set to deploy 200 megawatts worth of Qualcomm's chips in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vipers |first=Robbie Whelan and Gareth |date=2025-10-27 |title=Qualcomm Launches AI Chips to Challenge Nvidia’s Dominance |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/qualcomm-stock-surges-on-ai-chip-launch-cc7a4590 |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Patents and patent disputes==
In 2024, the [[World Intellectual Property Organization|World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)]]’s Annual PCT Review ranked Qualcomm's number of patent applications published under the [[Patent Cooperation Treaty|PCT System]] as 3rd in the world, with 3,848 patent applications being published during 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PCT Yearly Review 2025 |url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-901-2025-en-patent-cooperation-treaty-yearly-review-2025.pdf |page=39}}</ref> In 2017, Qualcomm owned more than 130,000 current or pending patents,<ref name="Chafkin King 2017">{{Cite web |last1=Chafkin |first1=Max |last2=King |first2=Ian |date=October 4, 2017 |title=Apple and Qualcomm's Billion-Dollar War Over an $18 Part |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-04/apple-and-qualcomm-s-billion-dollar-war-over-an-18-part |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Bloomberg.com |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204130210/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-04/apple-and-qualcomm-s-billion-dollar-war-over-an-18-part |url-status=live }}</ref> an increase from the early 2000s when Qualcomm had more than 1,000 patents.<ref name="eight">{{Cite news |last=White |first=Michael |date=September 16, 2000 |title=Qualcomm streamlines for wireless battle |publisher=Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&amp;dat=20000916&amp;id=TrkeAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=8s8EAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=6534,472942 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224105721/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20000916&id=TrkeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8s8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6534,472942 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 26, 2000 |title=Qualcomm spinning off businesses |publisher=Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&amp;dat=20000726&amp;id=jbM0AAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=OiEGAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=3257,3098830 |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225235549/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=20000726&id=jbM0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3257,3098830 |url-status=live }}</ref> As the sole early investor in CDMA research and development, Qualcomm's patent portfolio contains much of the intellectual property that is essential to CDMA technologies.<ref name="Klemens2010" />

Since many of Qualcomm's patents are part of an industry standard, the company has agreed to license those patents under "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" terms.<ref name="Pressman 2017" /> Qualcomm's royalties come out to about 5% or $30 per mobile device.<ref name="Chafkin King 2017" /> According to Fortune Magazine, this is about 5–10 times more than what is typically charged by other patent-holders.<ref name="Pressman 2017" /> Qualcomm says its patents are more expensive because they are more important and its pricing is within the range of common licensing practices.<ref name="Pressman 2017" /> However, competitors, clients, and regulators often allege Qualcomm charges unreasonable rates or engages in unfair competition for mandatory patents.<ref name="Delta2009">{{Cite book |last=Delta |first=George |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0eMafpE7A0YC&pg=RA1-SA7-PA23 |title=Law of the Internet |publisher=Aspen Publishers Online |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7355-7559-2 |pages=1 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830145137/https://books.google.com/books?id=0eMafpE7A0YC&pg=RA1-SA7-PA23 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Broadcom===
In 2005, [[Broadcom]] and Qualcomm were unable to reach an agreement on cross-licensing their intellectual property,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balint |first=Kathryn |date=June 8, 2007 |title=Qualcomm punished with phone import ban |work=Union-Tribune San Diego |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070608/news_1n8qualcomm.html |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224214009/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Broadcom sued Qualcomm alleging it was breaching ten Broadcom patents.<ref name="wsjwsjwsjjj">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=May 20, 2005 |title=Broadcom Levels Suit on Qualcomm |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB111651086084838082 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707192106/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111651086084838082 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Mei2012">{{Cite book |last=Mei |first=Lei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IelMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA161 |title=Conducting Business in China: An Intellectual Property Perspective |date=November 8, 2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-976022-0 |pages=161 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819121803/https://books.google.com/books?id=IelMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA161 |url-status=live }}</ref> Broadcom asked the International Trade Commission to prohibit importing the affected technology.<ref name="wsjwsjwsjjj" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=London |first=Simon |date=May 20, 2005 |title=Broadcom seeks injunction in intellectual property war |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5b00902c-c8cb-11d9-87c9-00000e2511c8.html#axzz39iO1EwRz |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308035946/https://www.ft.com/content/5b00902c-c8cb-11d9-87c9-00000e2511c8#axzz39iO1EwRz |url-status=live }}</ref> A separate lawsuit alleged Qualcomm was threatening to withhold UMTS patent licenses against manufacturers that bought their semiconductors from competitors, in violation of the standards agreement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=July 6, 2005 |title=Suit by Broadcom Says Qualcomm Seeks a Monopoly |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB112056555346377303 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816231110/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB112056555346377303 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stern2005">{{Cite journal |last=Stern |first=R.H. |year=2005 |title=Standardization skullduggery update: UMTS standard |journal=IEEE Micro |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=73–76 |doi=10.1109/MM.2005.76 |issn=0272-1732}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 6, 2014 |title=Rival Names Qualcomm in Antitrust Suit |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/technology/06broadcom.html?_r=0 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119153113/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/technology/rival-names-qualcomm-in-antitrust-suit.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Qualcomm alleged Broadcom was using litigation as a negotiation tactic and that it would respond with its own lawsuits.<ref name="Stern2005" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Simons |first=Andrew |date=July 18, 2005 |title=Qualcomm, Broadcom Fight Stands to Be Costly |work=San Diego Business Journal |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/17871652/qualcomm-broadcom-fight-stands-be-costly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135029/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/17871652/qualcomm-broadcom-fight-stands-be-costly |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> Qualcomm sued Broadcom, alleging it was using seven Qualcomm patents without permission.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gross |first=Grant |date=July 11, 2005 |title=Qualcomm sues Broadcom over patents |publisher=IDG News Service |url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2322556/network-security/qualcomm-sues-broadcom-over-patents.html |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=May 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519113948/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2322556/network-security/qualcomm-sues-broadcom-over-patents.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> By late 2006, more than 20 lawsuits had been filed between the two parties and both sides claimed to be winning.<ref name="bwuyda">{{Cite news |last1=Grover |first1=Ron |last2=Kharif |first2=Olga |date=October 3, 2006 |title=Qualcomm, Broadcom Face Off |work=BusinessWeek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-10-03/qualcomm-broadcom-face-off |access-date=August 9, 2014 }}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In September 2006, a New Jersey court judge ruled that Qualcomm's patent monopoly was an inherent aspect of creating industry standards and that Qualcomm's pricing practices were lawful.<ref name="bwuyda" /><ref name="Stern2006">{{Cite journal |last=Stern |first=R. |date=September–October 2006 |title=New Jersey federal court holds Qualcomm's unFRANDly acts no antitrust violation |journal=IEEE Micro |volume=26 |issue=5 |pages=9–85 |doi=10.1109/MM.2006.97 |s2cid=16274288 |issn=0272-1732}}</ref> In May 2007, a jury ordered Qualcomm to pay Broadcom $19.6 million for infringing on three Broadcom patents.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Roger |last2=Clark |first2=Don |date=May 30, 2007 |title=Broadcom Wins Verdict Against Rival Qualcomm |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB118046894245217541 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026184340/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118046894245217541 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2007, the ITC ruled that Qualcomm had infringed on at least one Broadcom patent and banned corresponding imports.<ref name="Mei2012" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandvos |first=Jay |date=July 18, 2007 |title=Broadcom versus Qualcomm: Patents and the International Trade Commission |work=Electronic Design News |url=http://www.edn.com/electronics-news/4315644/Broadcom-versus-Qualcomm-Patents-and-the-International-Trade-Commission |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> Qualcomm and Broadcom reached a settlement in April 2009, resulting in a cross-licensing agreement, a dismissal of all litigation and Qualcomm paying $891 million over four years.<ref name="julione">{{Cite news |last=Crothers |first=Brooke |date=April 26, 2009 |title=Qualcomm, Broadcom reach $891 million settlement |publisher=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-broadcom-reach-891-million-settlement/ |access-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604163254/https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-broadcom-reach-891-million-settlement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the litigation, Qualcomm claimed it had never participated in the JVT standards-setting process.<ref name="handbook">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=azpqjkiybX0C&pg=PA153 |title=Antitrust and Associations Handbook |publisher=American Bar Association |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60442-392-1 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818224933/https://books.google.com/books?id=azpqjkiybX0C&pg=PA153 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|153}} However, an engineer's testimony led to discovery of 21 JVT-related emails Qualcomm lawyers had withheld from the court, and 200,000 pages of JVT-related documents.<ref name="BagleySavage2009" /> Qualcomm's lawyers said the evidence was accidentally overlooked, whereas the judge said it was gross misconduct.<ref name="BagleySavage2009" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 13, 2007 |title=Qualcomm battles in federal court |work=Herald Journal |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20071013&id=f2o1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1893,4820957 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816231116/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20071013&id=f2o1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1893,4820957&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Broadcom Lands Blows to Rival |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB118648775574690358?mg=reno64-wsj&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB118648775574690358.html |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225090320/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118648775574690358 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm was fined $8.5 million for legal misconduct.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Dona |date=April 7, 2010 |title=Court Rules For Former Qualcomm Lawyers, Blasts Qualcomm Employees |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303411604575168631785800738 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226234408/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303411604575168631785800738 |url-status=live }}</ref> On appeal, the court held that Qualcomm could only enforce the related patents against non-JVT members, based on the agreements signed to participate in JVT.<ref name="handbook" /><ref name="BlockEpstein1995">{{Cite book |last1=Block |first1=Dennis J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=myNUO_May5kC&pg=SA13-PA141 |title=The Corporate Counsellor's Deskbook |last2=Epstein |first2=Michael A. |date=December 1995 |publisher=Aspen Publishers Online |isbn=978-0-7355-0381-6 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819150218/https://books.google.com/books?id=myNUO_May5kC&pg=SA13-PA141 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|7}}

===Nokia and Project Stockholm===
Six large telecommunications companies<ref name="randommm">{{Cite news |date=November 25, 2009 |title=E.U. Drops Antitrust Case Against Qualcomm |work=The New York Times |url=http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/eu-drops-antitrust-case-against-qualcomm/ |access-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016201248/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/eu-drops-antitrust-case-against-qualcomm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> led by Nokia<ref name="goodsource">{{Cite news |last=Schenker |first=Jennifer |date=July 24, 2008 |title=Why Qualcomm Folded to Nokia |work=BusinessWeek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-07-24/why-qualcomm-folded-to-nokiabusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |access-date=August 8, 2014 }}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> filed a complaint against Qualcomm with the [[European Commission]]'s antitrust division<ref name="goodsource" /> in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spagat |first=Elliot |date=January 26, 2007 |title=Qualcomm's Business Model Attacked |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/26/AR2007012600826_pf.html |access-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref> They alleged Qualcomm was abusing its market position to charge unreasonable rates for its patents.<ref name="DodgsonGann2013">{{Cite book |last1=Dodgson |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s0dYAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA571 |title=The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Management |last2=Gann |first2=David M. |last3=Phillips |first3=Nelson |date=November 2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-969494-5 |pages=571 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819212036/https://books.google.com/books?id=s0dYAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA571 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Lundqvist2014" /> Qualcomm alleged the six companies were colluding together under the code name Project Stockholm in a legal strategy to negotiate lower rates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sidener |first=Jonathan |date=March 21, 2008 |title=Qualcomm says competitors conspiring in patent dispute |work=Union Tribune San Diego |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080321/news_1b21conspire.html |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225160224/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nuttall |first=Chris |date=January 24, 2007 |title=Qualcomm warns of escalating costs |work=The Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/806e3634-abff-11db-a0ed-0000779e2340.html#axzz39iO1EwRz |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/3SM0C |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name="battle">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Qualcomm's Legal Battles Hold Big Implications for Cellphones |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB115759241325855938 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714044010/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115759241325855938 |url-status=live }}</ref> These events led to a protracted legal dispute.<ref name="randommm" />

Qualcomm filed a series of patent-infringement lawsuits against Nokia in Europe, Asia, the US, and with the ITC.<ref name="post">{{Cite news |last=Meyerson |first=Bruce |date=November 7, 2005 |title=Qualcomm Files Lawsuits Against Nokia |publisher=The Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/07/AR2005110700505.html |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714044048/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/07/AR2005110700505.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="timeline" /> The parties initiated more than one dozen lawsuits against one another.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2008 |title=TIMELINE: Qualcomm vs Nokia patents battle |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nokia-qualcomm-idUSL257876620080225 |access-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422093558/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nokia-qualcomm-idUSL257876620080225 |url-status=live }}</ref> Several companies filed antitrust complaints against Qualcomm with the Korean [[Fair Trade Commission (South Korea)|Fair Trade Commission]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jung-a |first=Song |date=July 3, 2006 |title=Broadcom and TI take action on Qualcomm |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/80f8b628-0aac-11db-b595-0000779e2340.html#axzz39uAwmWk9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/v7Mhw |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> who initiated an investigation into Qualcomm's practices in December 2006.<ref name="ten">{{Cite news |date=January 5, 2007 |title=South Korea's fair trade regulators steps up Qualcomm probe |publisher=The Associated Press |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&amp;dat=20070105&amp;id=fsQ0AAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=fiEGAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=2776,337753 |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227172622/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=20070105&id=fsQ0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fiEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2776,337753 |url-status=live }}</ref> The dispute between Qualcomm and Nokia escalated, when their licensing agreement ended in April 2007.<ref name="nokia">{{Cite news |last=Richtel |first=Matt |date=July 24, 2008 |title=In settlement, Nokia will pay royalties to Qualcomm |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/technology/24qualcomm.html?_r=0 |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128075849/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/technology/24qualcomm.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In February 2008, the two parties agreed to halt any new litigation until an initial ruling is made on the first lawsuit in Delaware.<ref name="BagleySavage2009">{{Cite book |last1=Bagley |first1=Constance E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2ezeH8IpSgC&pg=PA386 |title=Managers and the Legal Environment: Strategies for the 21st Century |last2=Savage |first2=Diane |date=February 5, 2009 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-324-58204-8 |pages=386 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819120832/https://books.google.com/books?id=I2ezeH8IpSgC&pg=PA386 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="timeline" /> Nokia won three consecutive court rulings with the German Federal Patent Court, the High Court in the United Kingdom, and the International Trade Commission respectively. Each found that Nokia was not infringing on Qualcomm's patents.<ref name="goodsource" /><ref name="Lundqvist2014">{{Cite book |last=Lundqvist |first=Björn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PySeAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA64 |title=Standardization under EU Competition Rules and US Antitrust Laws: The Rise and Limits of Self-Regulation |date=May 30, 2014 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-78195-486-7 |pages=64 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819200352/https://books.google.com/books?id=PySeAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 23, 2008 |title=Nokia: German court rules Qualcomm patent invalid |publisher=Reuters |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINL2310194220080723 |access-date=August 8, 2014 }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In July 2008, Nokia and Qualcomm reached an out-of-court settlement that ended the dispute and created a 15-year cross-licensing agreement.<ref name="goodsource" />

===Recent disputes===
ParkerVision filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm in July 2011 alleging that it infringed on seven ParkerVision patents related to converting electromagnetic radio signals to lower frequencies.<ref name="parker">{{Cite news |last=Graves |first=Brad |date=November 4, 2013 |title=Qualcomm Likely to Appeal $173M Verdict |work=San Diego Business Journal |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/91945397/qualcomm-likely-appeal-173m-verdict |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806133310/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/91945397/qualcomm-likely-appeal-173m-verdict |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> A {{US$|long=no|173 million}} jury verdict against Qualcomm was overturned by a judge.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Decker |first=Susan |date=June 23, 2014 |title=Qualcomm Wins Ruling Tossing ParkerVision $173M Verdict |publisher=Bloomberg |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-23/qualcomm-wins-ruling-tossing-parkervision-173m-verdict.html |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=January 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109081324/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-23/qualcomm-wins-ruling-tossing-parkervision-173m-verdict.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In November 2013, the China [[National Development and Reform Commission]] initiated an anti-trust investigation into Qualcomm's licensing division.<ref name="reutreur" /><ref name="wsjsj" /> The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] also started an investigation into whether Qualcomm breached antibribery laws through its activities in China.<ref name="wsjsj">{{Cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Don |last2=Beckerman |first2=Josh |date=July 23, 2014 |title=Qualcomm Profit Rises; Company Notes 'Challenges' in China |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-profit-rises-company-notes-challenges-in-china-1406147672 |access-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-date=September 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922225024/http://online.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-profit-rises-company-notes-challenges-in-china-1406147672 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Mike |date=February 5, 2012 |title=Qualcomm not talking about bribery probe |work=Union-Tribune San Diego |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/03f68896-77a3-11de-9713-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2xMChLKki |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017180112/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/03f68896-77a3-11de-9713-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2xMChLKki |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chinese regulator raided Qualcomm's Chinese offices in August 2013.<ref name="reutersssst">{{Cite news |last1=Yao |first1=Kevin |last2=Miller |first2=Matthew |date=February 19, 2014 |title=China accuses Qualcomm of overcharging, abusing dominance |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-ndrc-idUSBREA1I0A820140219 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311140334/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-ndrc-idUSBREA1I0A820140219 |url-status=live }}</ref> The dispute was settled in 2015 for $975 million.<ref name="Clark 2015">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Don |date=February 8, 2015 |title=Qualcomm to Pay $975 Million Antitrust Fine to China |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-settles-china-probe-1423518143 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120234910/http://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-settles-china-probe-1423518143 |url-status=live }}</ref> 
 
In late 2016 The Korea Fair Trade Commission alleged Qualcomm abused a "dominant market position" to charge cell phone manufacturers excessive royalties for patents and limit sales to companies selling competing semiconductor products.<ref name="Fortune 2016hsj">{{Cite news |date=December 27, 2016 |title=Why South Korea Just Hit Qualcomm with a Record $854 Million Fine |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2016/12/27/qualcomm-korea-antitrust/ |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126140046/http://fortune.com/2016/12/27/qualcomm-korea-antitrust/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The regulator gave Qualcomm a fine of $854 million, which the company said it will appeal.<ref name="Fortune 2016hsj" /> Eventually, Qualcomm lost the case in Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea in 2023, causing to enact the fine in force.<ref name="The Joongang2023qcm">{{cite news|date=Apr 13, 2023|title='세기의 과징금' 퀄컴에 1조…7년 싸움, 공정위 결국 이겼다|work=The Joongang|url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25154879}}</ref>
 
In April 2017, Qualcomm paid an {{US$|long=no|814.9 million}} settlement to [[BlackBerry]] as a refund for prepaid licensing fees.<ref name="Cao 2017">{{Cite web |last=Cao |first=Jing |date=April 12, 2017 |title=BlackBerry Jumps as $814.9 Million Qualcomm Refund Bolsters Cash |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/blackberry-wins-814-9-million-from-qualcomm-in-royalty-dispute |access-date=October 5, 2017 |website=Bloomberg.com |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802150415/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/blackberry-wins-814-9-million-from-qualcomm-in-royalty-dispute |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2017, Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission fined Qualcomm another {{US$|long=no|773 million}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Fined Record $773 Million in Taiwan Antitrust Probe |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-11/qualcomm-fined-773-million-in-taiwan-for-antitrust-violations |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701063106/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-11/qualcomm-fined-773-million-in-taiwan-for-antitrust-violations |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2018 Qualcomm paid a settlement to Taiwan for {{US$|long=no|93 million}} in fines and a promise to spend {{US$|long=no|700 million}} in the local Taiwan economy.<ref name="Mickle 2018">{{Cite web |last=Mickle |first=Tripp |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Qualcomm, Taiwan Reach Settlement in Patent-Licensing Dispute |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-taiwan-reach-settlement-in-patent-licensing-dispute-1533872303 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816111137/https://www.wsj.com/articles/qualcomm-taiwan-reach-settlement-in-patent-licensing-dispute-1533872303 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Lee 2018">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Yimou |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Qualcomm settles anti-trust case with Taiwan regulator for $93 million |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-qualcomm-taiwan/qualcomm-settles-with-taiwan-antitrust-regulator-for-t2-73-billion-idUSKBN1KV07Z |access-date=August 17, 2018 |website=U.S. |archive-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814170921/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-qualcomm-taiwan/qualcomm-settles-with-taiwan-antitrust-regulator-for-t2-73-billion-idUSKBN1KV07Z |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2025, as part of an anti-trust investigation into Qualcomm, China's market regulator said that the company said it did not notify the agency when it acquired Israeli auto-chip design company Autotalks despite having been informed that the deal required the agency's approval and telling it that the company would not pursue the merger.<ref name="d982">{{cite web |last=Li |first=Selena |date=2025-10-12 |title=China says Qualcomm admitted to acquiring Autotalks without informing regulator |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-qualcomm-admitted-acquiring-autotalks-without-informing-regulator-2025-10-12/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251012100047/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-qualcomm-admitted-acquiring-autotalks-without-informing-regulator-2025-10-12/ |archive-date=2025-10-12 |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=Reuters}}</ref> Several media outlets including [[CNBC]], [[The Wall Street Journal]], [[Reuters]], [[Barron's|Barrons]], and more speculated that the investigation was part of trade discussions between the US and China. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kubota |first=Yoko |date=2025-10-10 |title=China Goes All In on U.S. Trade Battle, With Qualcomm in the Crosshairs |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/china-goes-all-in-on-u-s-trade-battle-with-qualcomm-in-the-crosshairs-9b6a2bc7 |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolf |first=Nate |title=Qualcomm Stock Drops. Blame China. |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/qualcomm-stock-price-china-antitrust-probe-1778f7ec |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=barrons |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kharpal |first=Arjun |date=2025-10-10 |title=China opens antitrust probe into the U.S. chip giant Qualcomm |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/10/qualcomm-shares-today-after-china-opens-antitrust-probe.html |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

===Apple===
In January 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated an investigation into allegations that Qualcomm charged excessive royalties for patents that are "essential to industry standards".<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2017 |title=Qualcomm shares plunge amid US antitrust case |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/17/qualcomm-shares-plunge-after-report-said-it-will-face-us-antitrust-case.html |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206123128/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/17/qualcomm-shares-plunge-after-report-said-it-will-face-us-antitrust-case.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, Apple initiated a {{US$|long=no|1 billion}} lawsuit against Qualcomm in the U.S. alleging Qualcomm overcharged for semiconductors and failed to pay {{US$|long=no|1 billion}} in rebates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2017 |title=Apple files $1 billion lawsuit against chip supplier Qualcomm |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-lawsuit-qualcomm-idUSKBN1542SG |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113201800/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-lawsuit-qualcomm-idUSKBN1542SG |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Balakrishnan |first=Anita |date=January 21, 2017 |title=Qualcomm blasts 'baseless' $1 billion Apple royalties lawsuit |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/20/apple-sues-qualcomm-for-1-billion.html |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125224139/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/20/apple-sues-qualcomm-for-1-billion.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Apple also filed lawsuits in China<ref name="Pressman 2017">{{Cite web |last=Pressman |first=Aaron |date=January 26, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Slams Apple Over Lawsuits |url=http://fortune.com/2017/01/26/qualcomm-apple-patent-fight-analysts/ |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Fortune |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203212012/https://fortune.com/2017/01/26/qualcomm-apple-patent-fight-analysts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref name="adfljajdcpajdpfijaoiwec">{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2017 |title=Apple Is Expanding its War with Qualcomm |url=http://fortune.com/2017/03/03/apple-qualcomm-legal-battle/ |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Fortune |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018125602/http://fortune.com/2017/03/03/apple-qualcomm-legal-battle/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Apple alleged Qualcomm was engaging in unfair competition by selling industry-standard patents at a discount rate in exchange for an exclusivity agreement for its semiconductor products.<ref name="King McLaughlin Rosenblatt 2017">{{Cite web |last1=King |first1=Ian |last2=McLaughlin |first2=David |last3=Rosenblatt |first3=Joel |date=January 17, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Accused of Forcing Deal on Apple to Thwart Rivals |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-17/qualcomm-forced-apple-to-exclusively-use-modem-chips-ftc-says |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Bloomberg.com |archive-date=October 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016100304/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-17/qualcomm-forced-apple-to-exclusively-use-modem-chips-ftc-says |url-status=live }}</ref> An FTC report reached similar conclusions.<ref name="King McLaughlin Rosenblatt 2017" /> Qualcomm filed counter-claims alleging Apple made false and misleading statements to induce regulators to sue Qualcomm.<ref name="Forbespatents">{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Is Suing iPhone Manufacturers In Backlash Against Apple |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2017/05/17/qualcomm-suing-apple-contract-manufacturers/#e0eea6a183a7 |access-date=October 4, 2017 |website=Forbes |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917093146/https://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2017/05/17/qualcomm-suing-apple-contract-manufacturers/#e0eea6a183a7 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also sued Apple's suppliers for allegedly not paying Qualcomm's patent royalties, after Apple stopped reimbursing them for patent fees.<ref name="Forbespatents" /><ref name="Fortune 2017Apple">{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2017 |title=Apple Stops Paying Qualcomm Royalties |url=http://fortune.com/2017/04/28/apple-iphone-royalties-qualcomm/ |access-date=October 5, 2017 |website=Fortune |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013080443/http://fortune.com/2017/04/28/apple-iphone-royalties-qualcomm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm petitioned the International Trade Commission to prohibit imports of iPhones, on the premise that they contain stolen Qualcomm patents after Apple's suppliers stopped paying.<ref name="King Decker 2017">{{Cite web |last1=King |first1=Ian |last2=Decker |first2=Susan |date=May 3, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Said to Seek U.S. Import Ban for iPhones |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-03/qualcomm-said-to-seek-u-s-import-ban-for-iphones |access-date=October 5, 2017 |website=Bloomberg.com |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014110207/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-03/qualcomm-said-to-seek-u-s-import-ban-for-iphones |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In August 2017, the International Trade Commission responded to Qualcomm's complaints by starting an investigation of Apple's use of Qualcomm patents without royalties.<ref name="Heavey Nellis 2017">{{Cite web |last1=Heavey |first1=Susan |last2=Nellis |first2=Stephen |date=August 8, 2017 |title=U.S. to review Qualcomm's complaints about Apple iPhone patents |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm/u-s-to-review-qualcomms-complaints-about-apple-iphone-patents-idUSKBN1AO23R |access-date=October 5, 2017 |website=U.S. |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926064323/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm/u-s-to-review-qualcomms-complaints-about-apple-iphone-patents-idUSKBN1AO23R |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also filed suit against Apple in China for alleged patent infringement in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ian |date=October 13, 2017 |title=Qualcomm Seeks China iPhone Ban, Expanding Apple Legal Fight |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-13/qualcomm-seeks-china-iphone-ban-escalating-apple-legal-fight |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701063107/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-13/qualcomm-seeks-china-iphone-ban-escalating-apple-legal-fight |url-status=live }}</ref> The following month, Apple counter-sued, alleging Qualcomm was using patented Apple technology in its Android components.<ref name="Nellis 2017">{{Cite web |last=Nellis |first=Stephen |date=November 29, 2017 |title=Apple accuses Qualcomm of patent infringement in countersuit |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm/apple-accuses-qualcomm-patent-infringement-in-countersuit-idUSKBN1DT1UU |access-date=August 12, 2018 |website=U.S. |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811133037/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-qualcomm/apple-accuses-qualcomm-patent-infringement-in-countersuit-idUSKBN1DT1UU |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In December 2018, Chinese<ref name="Nellis 2018">{{Cite web |last=Nellis |first=Stephen |date=December 11, 2018 |title=China court bans sales of older iPhone models in Apple-Qualcomm global battle |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-apple-idUSKBN1O91LD |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=U.S. |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727002442/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-qualcomm-apple-idUSKBN1O91LD |url-status=live }}</ref> and German<ref name="Feiner 2018">{{Cite web |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=December 20, 2018 |title=Apple will stop selling some iPhone models in its stores in Germany following ruling in Qualcomm patent case |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/20/qualcomm-reportedly-wins-injunction-against-apple-in-munich.html |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=CNBC |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011215723/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/20/qualcomm-reportedly-wins-injunction-against-apple-in-munich.html |url-status=live }}</ref> courts held that Apple infringed on Qualcomm patents and banned sales of certain iPhones. Some patents were held to be invalid,<ref name="Bloomberg 2019">{{Cite web |last1=Decker |first1=Susan |last2=King |first2=Ian |last3=Gurman |first3=Mark |date=March 26, 2019 |title=Apple Dodges One Import Ban in Qualcomm Fight, Faces Another |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-26/apple-infringes-qualcomm-patent-judge-recommends-iphone-ban |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031050138/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-26/apple-infringes-qualcomm-patent-judge-recommends-iphone-ban |url-status=live }}</ref> while others were infringed by Apple.<ref name="Nieva 2019">{{Cite web |last=Nieva |first=Richard |date=March 15, 2019 |title=Apple dealt legal blow as jury awards Qualcomm $31 million |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-qualcomm-patent-infringement-verdict/ |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=CNET |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314131802/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-qualcomm-patent-infringement-verdict/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In April 2019, Apple and Qualcomm reached an agreement to cease all litigation and sign a six-year licensing agreement.<ref name="daoijdaiew">{{Cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Don |last2=Wakabayashi |first2=Daisuke |date=April 16, 2019 |title=Apple and Qualcomm Settle All Disputes Worldwide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/technology/apple-qualcomm-settle.html |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128190032/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/technology/apple-qualcomm-settle.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The settlement included a one-time payment from Apple of about {{val|p=$|4.5 |to| 4.7 |u=billion}}.<ref name="daiuowbavinadsewmgn">{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2019 |title=Qualcomm Pegs Payment From Apple at $4.5 Billion to $4.7 Billion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/technology/qualcomm-apple-payment.html |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231046/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/technology/qualcomm-apple-payment.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Terms of the six-year licensing agreement were not disclosed, but the licensing fees were expected to increase revenues by {{US$|long=no|2}} per-share.<ref name="daoijdaiew" /><ref name="daiuowbavinadsewmgn" />
 
In January 2018, the European Competition Commission fined Qualcomm {{US$|long=no|1.2 billion}} for an arrangement to use Qualcomm chips exclusively in Apple's mobile products.<ref name="Olson 2018">{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Parmy |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Hit With $1.2 Billion EU Antitrust Fine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/01/24/qualcomm-1-2-billion-eu-antitrust-fine/ |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=Forbes |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203023058/https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/01/24/qualcomm-1-2-billion-eu-antitrust-fine/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="danonqveroidnsiun">{{Cite web |last=Bray |first=Chad |date=January 24, 2018 |title=E.U. Fines Qualcomm $1.2 Billion Over Apple Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/business/eu-qualcomm-fine-antitrust.html |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815023358/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/business/eu-qualcomm-fine-antitrust.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Drozdiak Greenwald 2018">{{Cite web |last1=Drozdiak |first1=Natalia |last2=Greenwald |first2=Ted |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Qualcomm Is Slapped With $1.23 Billion EU Fine for Illegal Payments to Apple |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-to-fine-qualcomm-over-exclusivity-payments-to-apple-1516783685 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921121523/https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-to-fine-qualcomm-over-exclusivity-payments-to-apple-1516783685 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm appealed the decision,<ref name="Olson 2018" /><ref name="danonqveroidnsiun" /><ref name="Drozdiak Greenwald 2018" /> and in June 2022, Qualcomm announced the company had won its appeal of the [[European Union]] antitrust fine. The appeal had highlighted that Apple as a company had no technical alternative other than to use Qualcomm's LTE chipsets.<ref>{{cite web|website=techcrunch|title= Qualcomm wins appeal against $1BN+ EU antitrust fine|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/15/qualcomm-eu-antitrust-fine-appeal/|access-date=June 15, 2022|date=June 15, 2022}}</ref>

===Federal Trade Commission===
Stemming from the investigation that led to the Apple lawsuit actions, the FTC filed suit against Qualcomm in 2017 alleging it engaged in antitrust behavior due to its monopoly on wireless broadband technology. The complaints filed by the FTC included that Qualcomm charged "disproportionately high" patent royalty rates to phone manufacturers and refused to sell them broadband chips if they did not license the patents, a policy referred to as "no license, no chips", that Qualcomm refused to license the patent to other chip manufacturers as to maintain their monopoly, and that Qualcomm purposely offered Apple a lower license cost to use their chips exclusively, locking other competitors as well as wireless service providers out of Apple's lucrative market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Competitors say Qualcomm is running a monopoly — here's why |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/9/18173756/qualcomm-ftc-antitrust-monopoly-trial-explainer |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808191711/https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/9/18173756/qualcomm-ftc-antitrust-monopoly-trial-explainer |url-status=live }}</ref> The trial starting in January 2019, heard by Judge [[Lucy Koh]] of the federal [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|Northern District Court]] that also oversaw the Apple case. Judge Koh ruled in May 2019 against Qualcomm, asserting that Qualcomm's practices did violate antitrust. As part of the ruling, Qualcomm was forced to stop its "no license, no chips" bundling with phone manufacturers, and was required to license its patents to other chip manufacturers. As Qualcomm had expressed its intent to appeal, a panel of judges on the 9th circuit of appeals stayed the orders pending the litigation action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=May 22, 2019 |title=Qualcomm's licensing terms are anti-competitive, US judge rules |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/22/18635379/ftc-qualcomm-victory-lawsuit-court-anti-competitive-practices-modem-chip-chipsets |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005222953/https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/22/18635379/ftc-qualcomm-victory-lawsuit-court-anti-competitive-practices-modem-chip-chipsets |url-status=live }}</ref>

Qualcomm appealed to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|Ninth Circuit]], which reversed the decision in August 2020. The Ninth Circuit determined that Judge Koh's decision strayed beyond the scope of antitrust law and that whether Qualcomm's patent licensing may be considered [[reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing]] does not fall within the scope of antitrust law, but rather is a matter of contract and patent law. The court concluded that the FTC failed to meet its burden of proof and that Qualcomm's business practices were better characterized as "hypercompetitive" rather than "anticompetitive".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Decker |first=Susan |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Qualcomm Win in Antitrust Suit Restores Lucrative Licensing |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/mergers-and-antitrust/qualcomm-wins-appeal-in-ftc-antitrust-case |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812195307/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/mergers-and-antitrust/qualcomm-wins-appeal-in-ftc-antitrust-case |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Qualcomm handed a huge win as US court overturns the 'no-license, no-chips' antitrust ruling |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/11/21363629/qualcomm-win-appeal-antitrust-ftc-lawsuit-frand-patents-chips |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811192130/https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/11/21363629/qualcomm-win-appeal-antitrust-ftc-lawsuit-frand-patents-chips |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Consuelo |date=August 11, 2020 |title=9th Circuit Appellate Court Summary |url=https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/08/11/19-16122.pdf |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=9th Circuit of Appeals |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814125424/https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/08/11/19-16122.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Operations and market-share==
Qualcomm develops software, semiconductor designs, patented intellectual property, development tools and services, but does not manufacture physical products like phones or infrastructure equipment.<ref name="Kodama2012">{{Cite book |last=Kodama |first=Mitsuru |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iYu-lGHtkK4C&pg=PA94 |title=Interactive Business Communities: Accelerating Corporate Innovation through Boundary Networks |date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=Gower Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-1-4094-5950-7 |pages=94 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819125623/https://books.google.com/books?id=iYu-lGHtkK4C&pg=PA94 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company's revenues are derived from licensing fees for use of its intellectual property, sales of semiconductor products that are based on its designs, and from other wireless hardware, software or services.<ref name="primary">{{Citation |title=Form 10-K Annual Report |date=November 6, 2013 |url=http://investor.qualcomm.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1234452-13-483 |publisher=Qualcomm |access-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808175402/http://investor.qualcomm.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1234452-13-483 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Qualcomm divides its business into three categories:<ref name="primary2">{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2019 |title=About Qualcomm |url=https://investor.qualcomm.com/about-qualcomm/overview |access-date=January 10, 2020 |website=QUALCOMM Incorporated |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209173903/https://investor.qualcomm.com/about-qualcomm/overview |url-status=live }}</ref>
* QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies): CDMA wireless products; 80% of revenue
* QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing): Licensing; 19% of revenue
* QSI (Qualcomm strategic initiatives): Investing in other tech companies; less than 1% of revenue
 
Qualcomm is a predominantly fabless provider of semiconductor products for wireless communications and data transfer in portable devices.<ref name="newceo">{{Cite news |last=Pfeifer |first=Stuart |date=February 16, 2014 |title=Qualcomm calling on a new CEO amid intensifying competition |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-stock-spotlight-qualcomm-20140217-story.html#axzz2tmGtq2XB |access-date=June 5, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806152144/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-stock-spotlight-qualcomm-20140217-story.html#axzz2tmGtq2XB |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the analyst firm Strategy Analytics, Qualcomm has a 39 percent market-share for smartphone application processors and a 50 percent market-share of [[baseband]] processors.<ref name="FierceWireless 2016">{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2016 |title=Report: Qualcomm led smartphone application processor market in 1H 2016 |url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/report-qualcomm-led-smartphone-application-processor-market-1h-2016 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=FierceWireless |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224142321/https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/report-qualcomm-led-smartphone-application-processor-market-1h-2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Its share of the market for application processors on tablets is 18 percent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manners |first=David |date=October 18, 2016 |title=Apps processor market grows 3% while tablet AP market sinks 34% |work=Electronics Weekly |url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/487606-2016-10/ |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013212449/https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/487606-2016-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to analyst firm ABI Research, Qualcomm has a 65 percent market-share in LTE baseband.<ref name="Mott 2017">{{Cite web |last=Mott |first=Nathaniel |date=January 18, 2017 |title=FTC: Qualcomm Has Unfair Monopoly In Smartphone Market |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ftc-qualcomm-baseband-processors-monopoly,33443.html |access-date=January 21, 2017 |website=Tom's Hardware |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714043930/https://www.tomshardware.com/news/ftc-qualcomm-baseband-processors-monopoly,33443.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Qualcomm also provides licenses to use its patents, many of which are critical to the CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA and WCDMA wireless standards.<ref name="Asif2011">{{Cite book |last=Asif |first=Saad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zgqQ4MX3uIUC&pg=PT378 |title=Next Generation Mobile Communications Ecosystem: Technology Management for Mobile Communications |date=February 25, 2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-99581-4 |pages=378 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820040527/https://books.google.com/books?id=zgqQ4MX3uIUC&pg=PT378 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company is estimated to earn $20 for every smartphone sold.<ref name="Cannady2013">{{Cite book |last=Cannady |first=Cynthia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3NFMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 |title=Technology Licensing and Development Agreements |date=April 4, 2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-538513-7 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902194744/https://books.google.com/books?id=3NFMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{RP|64}}
 
Qualcomm is the largest public company in San Diego.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mike |first=Allen |date=June 20, 2011 |title=San Diego's Largest Public Company Remains a Work in Progress |work=San Diego Business Journal |url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/61993682/san-diegos-largest-public-company-remains-work-progress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161141/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/61993682/san-diegos-largest-public-company-remains-work-progress |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name="six">{{Citation |last=West |first=Joel |title=Before Qualcomm: Linkabit and the Origins of San Diego's Telecom Industry |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/v55-1/pdf/v55-1west.pdf |publisher=The Journal of San Diego History |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116141830/https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/v55-1/pdf/v55-1west.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It has a philanthropic arm called The Qualcomm Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Healy |first=Michelle |date=August 27, 2014 |title=X Prize finalists design Trekkie-inspired health tools |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/27/qualcomm-tricorder-xprize/14586959/ |access-date=October 22, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806183459/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/27/qualcomm-tricorder-xprize/14586959/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=March 31, 1997 |title=Stadium perks 'Q' up for Qualcomm |work=San Diego Business Journal}}</ref> A January 2013 lawsuit resulted in Qualcomm voluntarily adopting a policy of disclosing its political contributions. According to ''The New York Times'', Qualcomm's new disclosure policy was praised by transparency advocates.<ref name="randomname">{{Cite news |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=January 3, 2013 |title=State Comptroller Sues Qualcomm for Data About Its Political Contributions |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/nyregion/new-york-comptroller-sues-qualcomm-for-data-on-political-giving.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604163251/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/nyregion/new-york-comptroller-sues-qualcomm-for-data-on-political-giving.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Confessore |first=Nicholas |date=February 22, 2013 |title=Qualcomm Reveals Its Donations to Tax-Exempt Groups |work=The New York Times |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/qualcomm-agrees-to-reveal-donations-to-tax-exempt-groups/?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227233324/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/qualcomm-agrees-to-reveal-donations-to-tax-exempt-groups/?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Qualcomm Snapdragon systems on chips]]
* [[Adreno]]
* [[Qualcomm Hexagon]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
{{Finance links
| name = Qualcomm, Inc.
| symbol = QCOM
| sec_cik = 804328
| yahoo = QCOM
| google = QCOM
}}

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