QUALCOMM and British Sky Broadcasting Complete First MediaFLO Technical Trial in United Kingdom
5 December 2006
QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, and British Sky Broadcasting Limited (BSkyB), the leading provider of multi-channel entertainment in the U.K., today announced the successful completion of a joint technical trial of QUALCOMM's MediaFLO(TM) System in the United Kingdom. The technical trial, conducted over two months in Cambridge, featured 11 channels from the BSkyB content menu delivered to non-commercial devices from QUALCOMM and aimed to demonstrate the performance of the MediaFLO System in both laboratory and mixed field test environments. Factors such as total throughput, single frequency network (SFN), network acquisition, channel switching times, layered modulation and video codec performance were evaluated. BSkyB and QUALCOMM conducted the trial, along with infrastructure provider Arqiva, to explore new opportunities to deliver video services to mobile devices.
The trial established several key results:
* MediaFLO in general either met or exceeded QUALCOMM's previous
performance claims.
* Testing demonstrated that MediaFLO is capable of supporting 20
channels of QVGA video and stereo audio in a single 5MHz spectrum
allocation. This performance represents a 20 percent increase in
channels relative to prior performance claims of 20 video channels
per 6 MHz channel.
* Testers of the 25 fps trial video services noted, "the picture quality
is very good, small text is clear and movement is smooth," while
operating at an average of 240 kb/sec throughput per video/audio
channel.
* In tests measuring network acquisition, the MediaFLO device acquired
the MediaFLO channel guide in an average of 2 seconds.
* Measurements of channel switching time yielded an average physical
layer channel change time of <1.5 second and an average video to video
channel change time of 2.1 seconds.
* The measured physical layer performance was better than previously
published performance claims by 0.5 to 1.2 dB.
* The MediaFLO system allows the flexibility to trade off approximately
half of the channel count for twice the coverage area per transmitter.
"We're very pleased with the results of this trial of MediaFLO technology in the U.K.," commented Robin Crossley, strategy adviser, technology for BSkyB. "This was a thorough test of the technology's capabilities, yielding encouraging results, and confirms QUALCOMM's performance claims about the MediaFLO system."
"Completion of our trial with BSkyB in Cambridge is a major milestone in the development and deployment of the MediaFLO system, and we're quite proud of the results realized in our testing," said Peggy Johnson, president for QUALCOMM MediaFLO Technologies and QUALCOMM Internet Services. "In a very competitive mobile broadcast market, we feel the results of this technical trial underscore the inherent benefits of MediaFLO technology, a global mobile broadcasting standard built specifically for the mobile environment."
In addition to the technical trial with BSkyB, QUALCOMM is working with service providers around the world to explore MediaFLO services. In Japan, both KDDI and Softbank have announced their consideration of the nationwide deployment of MediaFLO services. Additionally, MediaFLO USA, a subsidiary of QUALCOMM, is poised for a commercial deployment with Verizon Wireless based on the MediaFLO System in the United States.
The MediaFLO System is an end-to-end solution that enables broadcasting of high-quality video streams, audio-only streams, Clipcast(TM) media and IP datacasting to mobile handsets. The MediaFLO System is designed to optimize coverage, capacity and user experience. FLO technology, a key component of the MediaFLO System, is specified in TIA standards TIA-1099, TIA 1102, TIA 1103, and TIA 1104. The MediaFLO System comprises 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 MediaFLO Technologies is available at http://www.mediaflo.com.
Sky is the leading multichannel television platform in the U.K. and Ireland. Around 21 million viewers in 8.3 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the U.K. and Ireland's first and most popular digital television service.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (http://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(R) company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) 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 Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA and FLO technology 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 24, 2006, and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Clipcast, FLO and MediaFLO are trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
QUALCOMM Contacts:
Mona Klausing, QUALCOMM MediaFLO Technologies
Phone: 1-858-651-4268
Email: mediaflo_pr@qualcomm.com
Emily Kilpatrick, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-658-4143
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
Garrett Ponder, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
Source: prnewswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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