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QUALCOMM and Samsung Electronics Conduct First Public
Demonstration of FLO™ Technology on a UMTS Handset
CTIA Wireless 2006 Demonstration Showcases FLO Technology's Air Interface
Independence
LAS VEGAS - APRIL 04, 2006 - QUALCOMM Incorporated
(Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in
telecommunication and digital convergence technologies, today announced that the
companies will conduct a live, over-the-air demonstration of FLO technology during CTIA
Wireless 2006, April 5-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This will be the first public
demonstration of FLO technology on a UMTS handset and will feature multiple channels of
streaming video and audio content on Samsung's UMTS handset. Demonstrations will take
place in both the QUALCOMM (#2047) and Samsung Electronics (#3226) booths.
FLO technology, a multicast innovation and key component of the MediaFLO™ system, is an
air-interface technology designed to increase capacity and coverage and reduce costs for
multimedia content delivery to mobile handsets. FLO technology-based multimedia
multicasting is air-interface independent, allowing it to complement a wireless operators'
CDMA2000®/EV-DO and UMTS/HSDPA cellular network data and voice services, delivering
content to the same cellular handsets used on these 3G networks.
"The growing demand for wireless multimedia services spans the entire wireless industry and
MediaFLO provides the most advanced and cost-effective mobile TV solution for companies
around the world," said Rob Chandhok, vice president of engineering and international
market development for QUALCOMM MediaFLO Technologies. "Our work with leading
handset manufacturers, such as Samsung, paves the way for UMTS operators around the
globe to closely examine how a FLO-based service offering can take its mobile multimedia
offerings to the next level."
"Ensuring the availability of advanced FLO-enabled handsets is a major step in achieving
commercial deployment of MediaFLO USA service here in the United States," said Michael
Coad, vice president of business development for MediaFLO USA. "This demonstration with
Samsung marks a significant milestone in reaching our deployment goal and making sure a
broad selection of handsets are in place for UMTS operators that might deploy MediaFLO
USA services."
"Samsung has long been an industry leader in engineering handsets that improve the mobile
experience for subscribers and allow wireless operators to promote and deliver exciting new
services. Live streaming video and other multimedia applications are among the most
exciting services on the horizon and QUALCOMM's MediaFLO system is playing a key role
in creating a market for those services," said Seog-Geun Lee, vice president of mobile
research and development team, Samsung Electronics. "This proof-of-concept demonstration
on our UMTS phones underscores the potential we see in the adoption of wireless
multimedia services."
Engineered specifically for the mobile environment, FLO technology offers several
advantages over other OFDM-based mobile multicast technologies, including higher-quality
video and audio, faster channel switching time, superior mobile reception, optimized power
consumption and greater capacity than other multicast technologies. Specific performance
features of FLO technology in a 6 MHz channel include:
- Support for transmitting up to 20 streaming channels of QVGA-quality (320x240
pixels) video at up to 30 frames per second, 10 stereo audio channels (HE AAC+
parametric stereo) and up to 800 minutes of distributed Clipcast™ content per day
(short-format video clips)
- An average channel switching time of less than two seconds
- Reduced network cost of delivering multimedia content by dramatically decreasing the
number of transmitters that need to be deployed
The MediaFLO system is an end-to-end solution that enables multicasting of high-quality
video, audio streams, Clipcast media and IP datacasting to mobile handsets. The MediaFLO
system is comprised of the MediaFLO Media Distribution System (MDS) and FLO
technology. The MediaFLO system is a manageable, scalable, subscription-based
distribution system and an efficient over-the-air network solution that provides wireless
operators a way to cost-effectively deliver the high-quality audio and video content their
subscribers desire. More information about the MediaFLO system is available at
www.mediaflo.com.
MediaFLO USA Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM Incorporated that will offer
interactive wireless multimedia services to consumers in cooperation with U.S. wireless
operators. MediaFLO USA's nationwide network, based on FLO technology, will deliver highquality
video and audio programming to third-generation (3G) mobile phones. In addition,
MediaFLO USA is working with leading content providers to aggregate and mobilize
compelling programs and services. MediaFLO USA creates a new market opportunity for the
entire wireless value chain and delivers on the promise of wireless multimedia.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is an active member of the FLO Forum (www.floforum.org).
The FLO Forum is a multi-company initiative committed to advancing the global
standardization of FLO technology, including compliance and certification benchmarks for the
technology. Composed of more than 30 industry-leading organizations, the FLO Forum works to develop products and services, based on FLO technology, that enable the delivery
of advanced multimedia services to wireless consumers.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital
media and digital convergence technologies with 2004 parent company sales of US$55.2
billion and net income of US$10.3 billion. Employing approximately 113,600 people in over
93 offices in 48 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance
Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and
Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing brands,
Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory
chips and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
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 2005 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 forwardlooking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability
to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components
on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA, FLO technology and
the MediaFLO USA Inc. network are 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, 2005, and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. MediaFLO, FLO and
Clipcast are trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark
of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA USA). All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
QUALCOMM Contacts:
Michele Guthrie, QUALCOMM MediaFLO Technologies
Phone: 1-858-651-4017
Email:
[email protected]
Kristi Craft, MediaFLO USA
Phone: 1-858-658-5220
Email:
[email protected]
Jeremy James, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-651-1641
Email:
[email protected]
Bill Davidson, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email:
[email protected]
Other Contacts:
Erin Lee, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Phone: 011- 82-2-751-2661
Email:
[email protected]
