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Why Did It Take So Long? What's their story? How did they get so big so fast? Where did these guys come from? The questions would come almost relentlessly. Especially at the turn of the millennium, after Qualcomm's stock had shot up more than 25-fold within a single year, I was constantly peppered with questions about the enigmatic company from sleepy San Diego. Being an engineer who loved to explore new technologies, I had followed Qualcomm's efforts to commercialize CDMA for years, but rarely explored the full impact their business would make in the wireless industry until Wall Street saw it plainly as well. As an analyst and consultant guiding investors in matters of technology however, I was repeatedly being asked to explain how Qualcomm's technology offered them such an advantage in the complex competitive landscape of the mobile communications industry. Like many others, the more I learned about Qualcomm, the more I learned they were on to something that would not only revolutionize communications, but the business of wireless as well. Sitting at Starbucks after a radio interview for our first book, co-author Tom Taulli and I were discussing Qualcomm's recent earnings report, which again was incredible. Again the topic popped up - what an amazing company. How come someone hasn't written a book on them? Jokingly, I stated that I should, since I've told and retold their story scores of times already. All Tom said was "Why not?" It only took a few more months before I got tired of asking the question and decided to answer it myself.  |
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