December 04, 2006
Move Enables Customers to More Quickly Deliver Industry-Leading Mobile Broadband Devices
San Diego — December 04, 2006
— QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data
solutions, today announced that it will be making acquisitions to complement its core wireless technology offerings. QUALCOMM
will acquire for cash WLAN technology provider Airgo Networks Inc. and the majority of RF Micro Devices’ (RFMD’s)
Bluetooth® assets. The acquisitions will enhance QUALCOMM’s ability to deliver industry-leading, complete semiconductor
solutions that will enable its device manufacturing partners to more quickly and easily offer a wide range of compelling wireless
devices.
“QUALCOMM’s business strategy has always been integration, enhancing performance and reducing
time to market by offering complete solutions,” said Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. “With
these two acquisitions, we will continue to extend our leadership in mobile broadband and will be offering our partners comprehensive
chipsets with seamlessly integrated features.”
“As the attach rate for Bluetooth and WLAN features
in mobile handsets is poised to grow past the critical tipping point, these acquisitions become very timely,” said Chris
Ambrosio, director of wireless device strategies for Strategy Analytics. “With QUALCOMM now having the technologies
of Airgo and RFMD’s Bluetooth business in-house, manufacturers will have access to more integrated solutions –
chipsets that deliver expanded, seamless connectivity with enhanced performance and space savings.”
Palo
Alto, Calif.-based Airgo possesses intellectual property assets and resources in WLAN technology and has provided WLAN products
to both manufacturers of access points and laptop computers. In addition to supporting Airgo’s existing business, QUALCOMM
will be integrating their 802.11a/b/g and 802.11n technology into select Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) chipsets.
The Company will also use this technology for chipsets on the new Snapdragon™ platform, which is designed to offer ubiquitous
mobile broadband connectivity.
“Airgo has an extensive history of delivering advanced wireless LAN solutions
that have revolutionized our industry segment, and we are pleased to become part of the company we believe is the global leader
in wireless technology and chipsets,” said Greg Raleigh, president & chief executive officer of Airgo Networks.
“This acquisition enables integrated products with wireless LAN and wireless WAN capabilities to deliver a seamless-connectivity
experience for users.”
Under the agreement with RFMD, QUALCOMM will acquire the majority of North Carolina-based
RFMD’s Bluetooth assets, specifically those based in San Diego. QUALCOMM will be integrating the Bluetooth Enhanced
Data Rate (EDR) technology into MSM reference designs to offer its device manufacturing customers a more complete solution.
RFMD’s San Diego-based team currently designs technology for both the mobile handset and headset markets.
“RFMD
hopes to become a broader development partner to QUALCOMM’s entire product portfolio for complementary products such
as power amplifiers and front-end modules,” said Bob Bruggeworth, president and chief executive officer of RFMD. “RFMD
is pleased that QUALCOMM sees the value of our long-term roadmaps for front-end solutions. The sale of these assets is part
of an ongoing relationship with QUALCOMM that we expect will continue to strengthen as we move forward to become the leading
provider of high-performance radio systems and solutions to the wireless industry.”
QUALCOMM estimates the
combined effect of these acquisitions on its pro forma earnings per share to be dilutive by approximately $0.04 in its fiscal
year ending September 2007, and modestly accretive in FY08. The acquisitions are expected to close by the end of December
2006.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless
communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM
is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2006 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the
ticker symbol QCOM.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the ability to gain any necessary approvals for the proposed
acquisitions, the successful completion of the acquisitions, the ability to achieve expected growth, savings and benefits
of the acquisitions, the potential disruption in business or relationships with customers, vendors, partners and employees
as a result of the proposed acquisitions, the Company’s ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant
quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, change in
economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company’s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2006.