The Hindu Business Line : Qualcomm facilitates sub-Rs 1,000 CDMA sets

New Delhi May 26 Promoter of CDMA technology Qualcomm said that handsets costing below Rs 1,000 will shortly be launched in the country by various vendors using its single-chip solution. While Motorola has already launched a CDMA handset based on Qualcomm's single chip for around Rs 1,600, other handset manufacturers including LG are expected to launch their products shortly.

Single-chip solution

Mr Kanwalinder Singh, President, Qualcomm India, said, "CDMA handset prices have come down from $40 a year back to $25. The single chip solution will bring down the costs further down and one would see a number of vendors offering sub $20 handsets soon." Currently, CDMA operators are offering subsidies to make available handsets for less than Rs 1,000.

Speaking on the sidelines of CDMA India 2007, a seminar organised by the CDMA development Group, Mr Singh said that with volumes picking up vendors would see the benefits of setting up base for manufacturing CDMA handset and network equipment. Qualcomm is also in talks with Indian manufacturers to start commercial production of CDMA handsets.

Earlier, speaking at the seminar, Mr K. Sridhara, Member (Technology), Department of Telecommunications, said that the Government wants CDMA operators to provide a handset with a lower price tag.

Low-priced handsets

Mr James Person, Chief Operating Officer, CDG, USA, announced that the ultra megabit speed for broadband service will be available by 2009. "This would put CDMA ahead of its competitors. CDMA offers lower cost of ownership, lower deployment and operational costs. As a matter of fact, operators could create profitability with CDMA even in low average return per user markets," he added.

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