Qualcomm plans to set up software centre

Qualcomm Inc, the US-based pioneer of code division multiple access technology, today said it is considering to set up a global software development centre in India to develop applications for mobile users. The company is also interested in getting into e-learning and e-medicine.

Irwin Mark Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer, Qualcomm Inc said, "India is a significant market for us and we have held discussion with the government and operators on how best we can become part of this market." The development centre is expected to come up this year.

The company is also developing technology which will enable users to use the same handset for GSM and CDMA mobile telephony.

"The first commercial launch of the dual-mode handsets is expected within a month. In the next one or two years most manufacturers would have launched their dual mode handsets," said Jacobs, who is responsible for commercialisation of the CDMA technology.

Qualcomm is also in discussions with Indian GSM based operators for deploying the GSM 1X technology. The new technology allows GSM operators to use CDMA spectrum with some adjustments on the network.

"GSM1X will allow GSM operators to take the benefit of the efficiency of CDMA technology without changing their network. We have held discussion with Indian GSM operators for offering the technology," Jacobs said.

On the potential in India, Jacobs said he expected CDMA subscribers to touch 20 million users by the year end.

"In the first year of operation we had projected a subscriber base of 6 million users. We have been surprised on the upside that the numbers have crossed 8 million. We expect that in the second year, Indian CDMA growth will be similar to what the Chinese market witnessed which was an addition of 12 million new users." Jacobs said.

On Qualcomm's investment in Reliance Infocomm, Jacobs said the Indian operator had enough resources internally and Reliance realised that they did not require external financial support at this point in time.