Qualcomm Demos FLO

SAN DIEGO -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, today announced the first live, over-the-air demonstration of FLO(TM) (Forward Link Only) Technology delivered to a wireless handset. FLO Technology, a multicast innovation and key component of the MediaFLO(TM) System, is an air-interface technology designed to increase capacity and coverage and reduce cost for multimedia content delivery to mobile handsets. The demonstration will feature over-the-air delivery and viewing of multiple channels of wireless multimedia content, both streaming video and multicast packet data on a form factor accurate (FFA) handset. The demonstration will take place during CTIA I.T. & Entertainment 2005, Sept. 27-29, in the QUALCOMM Booth #439.

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 include:

• Support for at least 20 streaming channels of QVGA (240x320 pixels) quality video at 30 frames per second, 10 stereo audio channels (HE AAC+ parametric stereo) and more than 800 minutes of stored, short-format video clips called Clipcasting(TM)
• Low power consumption, 4 hours of viewing time on a standard 850 mAh battery, without unacceptable degradation to talk or standby time
• An average channel switching time of 1.5 seconds without buffering or progress bars

"FLO Technology was designed from the ground up specifically for mobility, therefore users won't have to substitute video quality for power consumption or coverage for cost," said Jeff Lorbeck, senior vice president for QUALCOMM MediaFLO Technologies and general manager for MediaFLO USA, Inc. "Competing technologies, especially those developed from pre-existing terrestrial standards, can't promise the simultaneous user benefits that FLO offers. This demonstration showcases how FLO Technology can deliver the best user experience for the mobile subscriber and we look forward to continuing to work with our technology partners in bringing successful wireless multimedia services to market and into the hands of consumers."

"Network coverage, cost of service and content options will all be critical factors in the success of mobile multimedia services," said Linda Barrabee, senior analyst at Yankee Group. "The winners in this space will ultimately be the services and technology providers that deliver all of these things while still offering high-quality audio and video viewing that is easy to use and compelling to the mobile user."

Qualcomm Inc.