   |
|
   |
POPULAR ARTICLES
|
BOOKMARK PAGE
|
PRINT THIS REPORT |
 SEND TO A FRIEND |
 FEEDBACK |
 SEARCH THIS SITE
|
|
Notable
TD-SCDMA and the China Market Updated June 6, 2006 Most recent posts are by: MTJBKH, drrtl, Eric, mschere, olddog967, dmiller, stinvestor, Data Rox, Bill Dalglish, olddog967, JimLur, xdx, lotoworld, and Goodbuddy4863,
What these "best posts" on "TD-SCDMA and the China Market" below are about: From the million-circulation international media giant-
"WirelessLedger.com, a web site that comprehensively covers intellectual property rights and patents on mobile techniques" Korea Times, April 15, 2006
See also: Links to "best posts" on these related revenue catalysts: 3G Licensing and Royalty Collections How will new technologies affect InterDigital? (under construction) Also
see these other related WirelessLedger reports:
is your most comprehensive source for investor research on
TD-SCDMA and the China Market POSTS and THREADS
China Patent News...IDCC should "pop" on this news... Beijing Court Backs Patent Protection for Viagra Pfizer's Win May Mark Turn
HONG KONG -- A Chinese court backed patent protection for Pfizer Inc.'s blockbuster drug Viagra, a potentially landmark case for foreign companies seeking greater protection of intellectual property against the flood of fakes and knock-offs in one of the world's fastest-growing markets.
The Beijing court's decision vindicates Pfizer, the world's largest drug company, and its costly legal effort to protect its Chinese patent on Viagra, sales of which totaled about $1.6 billion world-wide last year. The verdict sends a positive signal to other foreign pharmaceutical companies that feared the government's decision to challenge Pfizer's patent would open up other drugs to attack on similar grounds. Copyright 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved (WL ed) For more of this news story go directly to source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114929963507270577.html or: http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=11418356
Posted by: drrtl 3G Choice Could Roil Europe's Mobile Players
It's not really a question of "will they or won't they?" but more a matter of "when?". The long-running saga of China's decision regarding licensing and adoption of third-generation mobile services has filled many a column inch. What is certain is that there will be 3G in China, sometime. It's also certain that the decisions eventually made by the Chinese authorities will shape the power base of the mobile industry for years to come.
Smaller suppliers, meanwhile, see China's big buildout as perhaps their last best chance to grab a piece of the pie. Vendors such as Alcatel (ALA ) and merger partner Lucent (LU ), Nortel (NT ), and Siemens/NEC (SI ) (NIPNY ), are relying on Chinese contracts to create sustainable positions in the worldwide 3G market. Then, of course, there are the rising Chinese stars, Huawei and ZTE, who are justified in expecting a cut of the deal from their own government. UPFRONT COSTS. Mere anticipation of these huge stakes is already feeding consolidation in telecom infrastructure. Witness the Alcatel/Lucent merger, which is driven largely by the quest for global scale, and Siemens' decision to offload its loss-making handset division to focus on equipment. True, there were -- and still are -- healthy profits to be made from second-generation services and infrastructure (e.g GSM and the original CDMA from Qualcomm (QCOM ). But the massive upfront investment required to get 3G off the ground has resulted in altogether less healthy balance sheets and forced companies to make dramatic moves to position themselves for the future. Further complicating the picture is that the Chinese have chosen to develop their own 3G technology, known as TD-SCDMA. Apparently, they are not content to adopt the other two prevailing standards: W-CDMA, the putative successor to GSM; and Qualcomm's 3G variant, CDMA2000. This will give China its own intellectual property -- as opposed to it depending on, and paying for, someone else's. With a domestic market the size of China, the country can achieve economies of scale without looking beyond its own borders. NO HURRY. The big stumbling block, of course, is that the Chinese government still hasn't awarded 3G spectrum licenses. This could be because TD-SCDMA is still immature and China wants its homegrown technology to develop fully as a realistic alternative to W-CDMA and CDMA2000. Or perhaps government leaders are waiting to see whether third-generation mobile actually delivers on its over-hyped promise. After all, 3G doesn't deliver much today that 2G -- especially enhanced versions such as GPRS and EDGE -- cannot. If most customer needs can be satisfied with 2G, why rush to lay out all that money on building new networks simply because the rest of the world thinks it's the right thing to do? Whatever the reasons for the delay, by the time China's licensing takes place, W-CDMA will have cemented its place as the leading global 3G standard, available via the widest range of infrastructure and handset players. However, it's still likely that China will allot at least one license to the EVDO type of CDMA2000, since there are already two operational CDMA networks there, plus a number of influential vendors that are lobbying for such a license. For CDMA2000 backers, a license in the world's biggest cellular market is a must-have. NEW BEDFELLOWS. There's also no doubt that TD-SCDMA will be deployed in China, but we already know that it is a difficult technology to commercialize. This raises the question of whether it will permit viable services. But having said that -- and here it's back to politics again -- failure for the Chinese communications flagship is not an option. TD-SCDMA will generate its own domestic industry, regardless of whether it's the most appropriate technology for 3G. The industry is already preparing itself for this eventuality: To carve out position in TD-SCDMA, we've already seen Ericsson hook up with ZTE, Siemens with Huawei, Nokia with China Putian, and Alcatel/Lucent with Datang. These couplings will be ready to exploit whatever opportunities TD-SCDMA produces. ECONOMIES OF SCALE. The non-Chinese companies have entered these marriages not so much with an eye on the bottom line, but as an insurance policy. The pressure on pricing for 3G infrastructure and handsets is far greater than it was -- and is -- for 2G. When China makes its move, this pressure will increase. Vendors may find themselves in a Catch-22. To retain credibility and market share, it's essential that they be involved in the rollout of Chinese 3G, yet profit margins will not so much be squeezed, as suffocated. Some vendors could even find that they cannot afford to compete. The future of the mobile industry is now being driven by the mass market. China is a huge economic force -- its very size, like India's, gives it tremendous market muscle. And while demographics may not allow 3G mobile penetration across the whole of Chinese or Indian society, it's only a matter of time until the economies of scale in these massive emerging markets give 3G the success that it has not achieved elsewhere. Will that come at the expense of today's industry leaders? Whatever decisions are taken in China, and whenever they are made, they will dictate who will survive the 3G battle -- and who won't.
Posted by: drrtl By Bengt Nordström 3G Choice Could Roil Europe's Mobile Players
It's not really a question of "will they or won't they?" but more a matter of "when?". The long-running saga of China's decision regarding licensing and adoption of third-generation mobile services has filled many a column inch. What is certain is that there will be 3G in China, sometime. It's also certain that the decisions eventually made by the Chinese authorities will shape the power base of the mobile industry for years to come. At stake is nothing less than the future of the wireless infrastructure business. Leading European players, such as Ericsson (ERICY ) and Nokia (NOK ) can't afford to miss the opportunity to supply 3G equipment to China. But the profit margins aren't likely to be great -- suggesting that winning deals in China could be more about maintaining market share and prestige than fattening the bottom line. Smaller suppliers, meanwhile, see China's big buildout as perhaps their last best chance to grab a piece of the pie. Vendors such as Alcatel (ALA ) and merger partner Lucent (LU ), Nortel (NT ), and Siemens/NEC (SI ) (NIPNY ), are relying on Chinese contracts to create sustainable positions in the worldwide 3G market. Then, of course, there are the rising Chinese stars, Huawei and ZTE, who are justified in expecting a cut of the deal from their own government. UPFRONT COSTS. Mere anticipation of these huge stakes is already feeding consolidation in telecom infrastructure. Witness the Alcatel/Lucent merger, which is driven largely by the quest for global scale, and Siemens' decision to offload its loss-making handset division to focus on equipment. True, there were -- and still are -- healthy profits to be made from second-generation services and infrastructure (e.g GSM and the original CDMA from Qualcomm (QCOM ). But the massive upfront investment required to get 3G off the ground has resulted in altogether less healthy balance sheets and forced companies to make dramatic moves to position themselves for the future. Further complicating the picture is that the Chinese have chosen to develop their own 3G technology, known as TD-SCDMA. Apparently, they are not content to adopt the other two prevailing standards: W-CDMA, the putative successor to GSM; and Qualcomm's 3G variant, CDMA2000. This will give China its own intellectual property -- as opposed to it depending on, and paying for, someone else's. With a domestic market the size of China, the country can achieve economies of scale without looking beyond its own borders. NO HURRY. The big stumbling block, of course, is that the Chinese government still hasn't awarded 3G spectrum licenses. This could be because TD-SCDMA is still immature and China wants its homegrown technology to develop fully as a realistic alternative to W-CDMA and CDMA2000. Or perhaps government leaders are waiting to see whether third-generation mobile actually delivers on its over-hyped promise. After all, 3G doesn't deliver much today that 2G -- especially enhanced versions such as GPRS and EDGE -- cannot. If most customer needs can be satisfied with 2G, why rush to lay out all that money on building new networks simply because the rest of the world thinks it's the right thing to do? Whatever the reasons for the delay, by the time China's licensing takes place, W-CDMA will have cemented its place as the leading global 3G standard, available via the widest range of infrastructure and handset players. However, it's still likely that China will allot at least one license to the EVDO type of CDMA2000, since there are already two operational CDMA networks there, plus a number of influential vendors that are lobbying for such a license. For CDMA2000 backers, a license in the world's biggest cellular market is a must-have. NEW BEDFELLOWS. There's also no doubt that TD-SCDMA will be deployed in China, but we already know that it is a difficult technology to commercialize. This raises the question of whether it will permit viable services. But having said that -- and here it's back to politics again -- failure for the Chinese communications flagship is not an option. TD-SCDMA will generate its own domestic industry, regardless of whether it's the most appropriate technology for 3G. The industry is already preparing itself for this eventuality: To carve out position in TD-SCDMA, we've already seen Ericsson hook up with ZTE, Siemens with Huawei, Nokia with China Putian, and Alcatel/Lucent with Datang. These couplings will be ready to exploit whatever opportunities TD-SCDMA produces. ECONOMIES OF SCALE. The non-Chinese companies have entered these marriages not so much with an eye on the bottom line, but as an insurance policy. The pressure on pricing for 3G infrastructure and handsets is far greater than it was -- and is -- for 2G. When China makes its move, this pressure will increase. Vendors may find themselves in a Catch-22. To retain credibility and market share, it's essential that they be involved in the rollout of Chinese 3G, yet profit margins will not so much be squeezed, as suffocated. Some vendors could even find that they cannot afford to compete.
Will that come at the expense of today's industry leaders? Whatever decisions are taken in China, and whenever they are made, they will dictate who will survive the 3G battle -- and who won't.
Posted by: mschere Infineon will be a major player in China.. OLD NEWS Infineon, Huawei Team for WCDMA Mobile Platform Online staff -- Electronic News, 9/16/2003 Infineon Technologies AG has teamed up with Huawei Technologies for a WCDMA mobile phone platform aimed at the China market.
"The winning combination of Huawei's and Infineon's complementary know-how enables the two companies to offer highly competitive WCDMA handsets that satisfy the specific needs of China, the world's largest mobile phone market," said Ulrich Schumacher, Infineon's president and CEO, in a statement. China has not yet accepted WCDMA, instead choosing other wireless standards. The companies claim that their technology will change that by producing a voice-centric WCDMA mobile phone platform for the mass market, opposed to the traditional WCDMA approach of multimedia communications and high data-rates. Both companies will facilitate the integration of WCDMA mobile phone platforms, through the development of application software, the integration of the protocol stack software, and WCDMA RTT algorithms, Infineon said. "Huawei has invested heavily in WCDMA, the mainstream 3G standard," Sun Yafang, chairman of Huawei, said in a statement. "The partnership with Infineon will enhance Huawei's capabilities in end-to-end WCDMA solutions, better serve the needs of operators and end users for low-cost WCDMA mobile phones (by offering voice and SMS services) and promote 3G development in China. We also believe that the platform cost could be narrowed to the level of GSM." mschere, ....Infineon also became new members of the forum.
Posted by: mschere First foreign telecom operator joins TD-SCDMA camp 2006-5-26
Along with France Telecom, Agilent Technologies, FiberHome Technologies and Infineon also became new members of the forum. The new members will help improve TD-SCDMA technology, push forward its commercialization and promote international cooperation on the technology, said Wang Jing, secretary general of the Forum. In competition with two other international standards -- WCDMA and CDMA2000 -- the technology has experienced hard times since the day it was born. "TD-SCDMA was almost unknown to the overseas telecom companies. When they talked of 3G they meant WCDMA in Europe and CDMA2000 in America," said Wang. As the technology matured and the Chinese government gave both funding and preferential policies, TD-SCDMA became well known among foreign companies. "They began to seek more information about TD-SCDMA, which will help them to make policies on future development," said Wang. No company can risk ignoring the world‘s largest mobile market where TD-SCDMA will definitely have an important seat, he said.
mschere
Posted by: Eric China Q1 Handset Sales mschere, << IMO:A good portion of IDCC's Nokia/Samsung $350 Million Plus 2G money was derived from their China GSM sales. Any talk of China not respecting IP royalty is a non-event for IDCC and its Licensees. Mobile sales in China up 7.72 per cent in 2005 - [Analysys International] report. [Mobile phone sales volume increased 7.72 per cent to 78.96m units in China during 2005, according to a report from IT analyst firm Analysys International.] >>
Q1 China Market Share by Brand (CCID) CCID Consulting based in China saw a total of 24.99 million handsets valued at 36.83 billion yuan (US$4.56 billion) sold in China last quarter, the highest on record for any quarter, but the share of all local brands combined has continued its fall for nine consecutive quarters. Ningbo Bird and Lenovo were the top two local brands, and CCID broke out share figures this way ... Nokia 26.9% Q1 China Market Share by Technology Analysys International, another China-based consulting company, also provided an estimation of handset sales by techynologyin the China market, last quarter. http://www.digitimes.com/telecom/a20060518AA068.html Best, -Eric -
Posted by: mschere IMO:A good portion of IDCC's Nokia/Samsung $350 Million Plus 2G money was derived from their China GSM sales..Any talk of China not respecting IP royalty is a non-event for IDCC and its Licensees. Mobile sales in China up 7.72 per cent in 2005 - report 17/04/2006 by Ben Tanner Mobile phone sales volume increased 7.72 per cent to 78.96m units in China during 2005, according to a report from IT analyst firm Analysys International. GSM handsets account for the vast majority of handset sales in China with 72.13m units, a 14 per cent increase over 2004. CDMA handset sales decreased 30.46 per cent to 6.84m units. CDMA handsets continue to slip in the Chinese market; the CDMA market share decreased from 13.47 per cent to 6.46 per cent during 2005.
In the CDMA market, Samsung remains at the top, with a 31.16 per cent share. Fellow South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics follows with an 18.71 per cent share. Both Motorola and ZTE command roughly 10 per cent of the market. Foreign vendors continue to dominate the Chinese mobile market. Domestic brands continued to slip, from 39 per cent to 29.77 per cent in 2005. Chinese vendors are doing a little better in the CDMA market, with ZTE holding the number four spot. With the CDMA market dwindling, though, domestic manufacturers are expected to continue to lose their grip on the mobile market in China. mschere
Posted by: olddog967 dmiller: If you want to read a current, authoritative, and I would assume unbiased report in regard to China and IPR, on April 28, 2006 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released its "Special 301" annual report on the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection provided by trading partners around the world. The report identifies governments who need to take stronger actions to combat piracy and counterfeiting. Concerns regarding China and Russia feature prominently throughout the report. The following URL is the report. It covers many countries, but there is quite a lengthy section specifically on China. While a lot of improvements are needed, I wouldn't go quite as far as saying that the Chinese Government "condones not recognizing others IPR". http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2006/2006_Special_301_Review/Section_Index.html
Posted by: mschere My comment..LG has licensed TD-SCDMA from InterDigital, as has NEC, Sharp, Panasonic,Toshiba, Sanyo,HTC, etc. etc.
LG Electronics plans to introduce the first triple-mode phone which supports TD-SCDMA, WCDMA and GSM standards in the first half of 2006.
COMMIT Incorporated was established in February 2002. COMMIT¡¯s investors consist of 17 well known and respected enterprises such as China PUTIAN Corporation, China Academy of Telecommunications Technology (CATT), Texas Instruments (China), Nokia (China) Investment Co. Limited, LG Electronics, Inc., Hyper Market International Limited and etc.
mschere
Posted by: dmiller idcc2006...his theory about companies pay royalties, not countries. If a foreign government condones not recognizing others IPR, why would the majority of the companies pay? I've read enough in the media about China for this to be a concern to me. "1/23/06 Born On Date for IDCC"
Posted by: STINVESTOR CHINA:TIME BOMB WALKING!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mschere A Full Layer 1 Modem and Layer 2/3 Implementation for Narrowband TDD to Accelerate Time-to-Market for TD-SCDMA Products
Posted by: mschere Here is some good China Intellectual Property reading.. SUPPLEMENT - China IP Focus 2006 Corporate America's slow boat to China
WL ed--
Posted by: mschere OLD NEWS.. InterDigital Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:IDCC) is a recognized pioneer in the design, development and delivery of advanced wireless communication platforms. InterDigital began developing its standards compliant TDD technology in late 1990s, and is now one of the board members of TD-SCDMA Forum. On July 25, 2005, Journalist (J) from TD-SCDMA Forum interviewed Mr. Donald M. Boles (B), Senior Vice President and Chief Patent Strategist of InterDigital. J£ºWhat is the contribution of InterDigital to TD-SCDMA and 3G? J: What are InterDigital¡¯s products and solutions? J: Do you have any plan in LCR development? J: What¡¯s your main IPR on TDD and 3G? J: What is the proportion of your IPR in all the 3G IPR? J: Besides air interface, what IPR in other area do you have? J: Do you have any partners in TD-SCDMA area? J: What about InterDigital¡¯s IPR in other countries? J: What is your future plan for TD-SCDMA development? J: Where do you think TD-SCDMA will prosper outside China?
Posted by: mschere Datang to launch TD-SCDMA/GSM dual mode handset in Q12007 Datang Mobile, a main developer of the Chinese TD-SCDMA 3G standard, is scheduled to launch a high-speed TD-SCDMA/GSM dual mode handset in the first quarter of 2007. Data speed of the terminal will be up to 2.8 megabytes per second, Xu Jingtao, a marketing director with Datang Mobile official, said at a Beijing conference Wednesday. To date, Datang Mobile and chip developers Spreadtrum, Commit, and T3G have developed several TD-SCDMA/GSM dual mode handset prototypes. Users of such handsets will be able to switch between GSM and TD-SCDMA networks. The feature could help resolve roaming issues for when China starts deployment of 3G TD-SCDMA networks. Service coverage for TD-SCDMA will not be as extensive as 2G networks during the initial stages of deployment. However, data speed of the existing dual mode phones is limited to 384 kilobyte per second at the current stage because the companies are still developing HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) features for the TD-SCDMA standard. HSDPA is an enhanced wireless technology that offers a data downlink of up to 14.4 megabytes per second. It is essentially a software feature that can be integrated into telecom equipment. Xu said Datang Mobile will launch a TD-SCDMA HSDPA data card in the second quarter of 2006, followed by a TD-SCDMA HSDPA handset in the third quarter. Source: interfax mschere Posted by: mschere The Next Great Intellectual Property Battle ...But for those of us who see massive intellectual property battles as good theatre, there is a battle coming that is sure to beat even the SCO - IBM infringement suit in terms of reams of press and depth of passion on both sides: the battle over TD-SCDMA. ...That then turns into a huge global debate about technology standards and royalties that will likely extend to intellectual property generally, forcing at some point in the next decade a WTO round on trade and protection of intellectual property and the role of IPR in global standards. There is a small but rich cottage industry in Beijing built around the defense of intellectual property rights in China. There are legions of law firms, public affairs firms (not lobbyists in the pure sense of the word, but close), consultants, investigators, and the like in the business of helping global firms seek out infringers and try to get the enforcers to do something about it. At the moment, their collective attention is all turned to this 90-day anti-piracy search-and-destroy sweep through 15 provinces. But for those of us who see massive intellectual property battles as good theatre, there is a battle coming that is sure to beat even the SCO - IBM infringement suit in terms of reams of press and depth of passion on both sides: the battle over TD-SCDMA. For those not familiar with it, TD-SCDMA stands for Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access. Forget what that all means. Put simply, TD-SCDMA is an ostensibly Chinese developed cellular mobile system for delivering high-speed broadband over cellular. It competes with two other standards, CDMA-2000 1x, developed by Qualcomm, and WCDMA, developed by the Europeans with significant helpings of Qualcomm's intellectual property. TD-SCDMA possibly offers a few advantages over the other two standards, but apparently only if you build out a very dense network of base stations. It is quite telling that the world's major cellular service providers aren't even considering the standard. Apparently, whatever TD-SCDMA offers isn't THAT much better than what's already out there. The Chinese claim that TD-SCDMA is totally locally developed. The folks at Qualcomm beg to differ, and say there are large chunks of Qualcomm technology in TD-SCDMA that require royalty payment. This really upsets the Chinese telecommunications policymakers who are backing the standard, since they see TD-SCDMA as an opportunity to stop having to pay royalties to foreigners. A TD-SCDMA test network is rolling out starting this month. The Chinese want to go commercial with the technology next year. And that's about the point when the legal battle would begin. And what a complex battle it would be. Qualcomm has their claim, and has likely been preparing this case for several years. The Chairman of Qualcomm China, Wang Jing, is a U.S. educated attorney who came to Qualcomm from a white-shoe law firm in Washington. Jing is erudite, intelligent, has a proven talent for defusing the nationalist argument, and he knows the law. Expect Qualcomm to make him their front man in the battle. Qualcomm's biggest strategic question will be to decide in which jurisdiction to file the suit, having to balance between winnability (almost anywhere outside of China) and enforceability (anywhere within China, including Hong Kong.) Datang, the primary local developer, will fight back ferociously, both in the courts and in the court of public opinion. They know that the very success of their company depends in part on not having to pay foreign royalties, and that much of their status with the market and policymakers rests on the contention that they did it all themselves. Expect a massive counter-suit, possibly overseas, and a public relations campaign designed to smear Qualcomm with anything and everything. The Chinese government is in a huge quandary. They want Datang to win this case, dodge having to spend hard currency on IP, and prove China's technological prowess. At the same time, China is facing a potentially large and damaging case in the WTO over its continued failure to protect intellectual property. It must demonstrate to the world that companies can do business in China without fear of having their IP stolen. Assuming Qualcomm's case has merit, letting the case go to trial in PRC courts is a no-win situation for China's policymakers. If Datang wins in Chinese courts, observers will claim the verdict was fixed. If Datang loses, the government will not only look foolish for having supported Datang's claims, they will be faced with the unpalatable choice of either compelling Datang and the local manufacturers to pay royalties, or openly defying international IPR conventions. My bet is for the government to push for a quiet settlement. So, here is how it will play out. 1. The MII announces 3G licenses, and the first ones go to carriers for TD-SCDMA networks. 2. Manufacturers start selling phones. 3. Qualcomm sues 4. Everyone makes a lot of noise for 6 months to two years. 5. All parties involved, battered in the public eye by the entire affair, wind up settling. 6. Lawyers collect massive fees. 7. Nearly all international manufacturers and most locals wind up paying royalties to Qualcomm on TD-SCDMA phones anyway. 8. We go into round two, where everybody and his brother get together to try to dictate to Qualcomm what royalties it can charge for its IPR. 9. That then turns into a huge global debate about technology standards and royalties that will likely extend to intellectual property generally, forcing at some point in the next decade a WTO round on trade and protection of intellectual property and the role of IPR in global standards. Indeed, the discussion is likely to attack the broader question of rationalizing copyright, trademark, and patent law around the world, on enforcement, and fair use. Get ready. Qualcomm vs. Datang over TD-SCDMA will help start the most important global legal battle of the 21st century. Watch closely, because this will wind up affecting all of us. mschere
Posted by: Data_Rox to all that are interested in China patents this is the best way to look them up click this link in application number space, enter "CN" (for China) the best way to get info on TD-SCDMA is to enter "CDMA" in Keyword in title or abstract... enter in the company name you want to search for in Applicant space....example, enter "Datang", or "Siemens", or "Motorola", or "Nokia", or "Ericsson", or "Qualcomm", or "Interdigital", or just leave that space blank and see all the companies that have CDMA based patents in China (yes, that is what TD-SCDMA is based on)
Posted by: mschere Some also feel that the successful deployment of TD-SCDMA could augur well for both India and Russia, two developing countries struggling hard to fund their huge telecom investment needs. "If China succeeds in TD-SCDMA, the sheer size of the market will turn it into a cost effective standard even attractive for exports," said Deba Ghoshal head-brand management and product planning at LG Electronics India. "And those which haven't adopted 3G yet, the Chinese standard may well turn out to be more cost viable." mschere
Posted by: Bill Dalglish My Commentary on Bristol York Report I feel the report is a helpful document, certainly emphasizing IDCC's relatively immense strength in some areas, but due to its professed methodology, misses the boat in other areas of IDCC patent strength. Jim Lur posted an access link to this report earlier today: “Unlocking Patent Value: Companies Investing for the Future in Mobile Communications” Commentary by Bill Dalglish (editor, Wireless Ledger.com) A number of us bought the report last Fall for the $800 or so required at that time. Based on a read of the Bristol York report last Fall– with a particular eye towards InterDigital-related components -- I have the following observations. 1. The report from Europe indicates extraordinary patenting success for IDCC in the so called “Chinese 3G” standard – TD-SCDMA. (see Figure 12). I attribute this success in part to InterDigital’s early and substantial involvement with the related TDD technology, where IDCC did cutting edge research in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. 2. The report indicates a newly achieved relatively strong position in CDMA2000, achieving status as one of the six main patent grantees in 2004. I assume this new status is due to the acquisition of Tantivy. (The federal litigation of Tantivy’s patents vs Lucent in Marshal Texas this week is therefore very important to IDCC.) (see Figure 10) 3. The report rates IDCC as (relatively) very strong in the emerging Wi-Max technology (“the largest threat to the traditional 3G and 3.5G technologies”) In the area of Wi-Max patent assignees, InterDigital is third worldwide, behind Intel and Samsung, but ahead of everyone else. (see Table 6) 4. The report seems to indicate that almost all of InterDigital’s eggs are in the TD-SDCDMA basket. The report indicates that if TD-SCDMA is even moderately successful in China, InterDigital will benefit strongly, assuming it is successful in collecting royalties/licensing fees. The report does not indicate a great deal of patent strength for InterDigital in WCDMA technology. I sense that the methodology used for the report resulted in this faulty conclusion. InterDigital’s key patents essential to WCDMA air interface technology were developed initially in the mid-1990’s for B-CDMA, an IDCC proprietary “broadband” CDMA technology that provided part of the foundation for the later WCDMA (“wideband”) technology. InterDigital’s essential patented air interface technology was already in the standards in 1999. Since the report’s analysis concentrates on patents issued since then, InterDigital’s strong WCDMA position does not emerge from the Bristol York research model. Likewise, Figure 29’s emphasis on IDCC infrastructure patents vs handset patents proportion does not reflect the importance of the early (and essential) IDCC WCDMA handset patents. 5. Patent Citation Analysis (1.5, Tables 1 and 2) does not identify InterDigital-held patents among the top five most cited infrastructure or handset patents. InterDigital may be stronger that it would appear in this category because InterDigital has concentrated its technology development specifically on the relatively narrow (but absolutely essential) “air interface” aspect of wireless communications. 6. Under part 6, “Valuation Overview,” the report discusses “enterprise value” relative to a company’s forecast revenues for 2006 – “an accurate measure of how much value the market places on the company relative to its peers. Companies trading at a higher multiple will tend to be thought of as having a high future potential.” Among all the companies cited, InterDigital is second only to Qualcomm in this indicator of future potential. (see Figure 22) 7. Caution: This report, in general, does not purport to identify the relative importance of a company’s patents. It is quantitative rather than qualitative in its focus. Summary of possible implications for InterDigital in the new Bristol York Report “Unlocking Patent Value: Companies Investing for the Future in Mobile Communications” This new Bristol York report, because of its methodology of concentrating on patents since 1999, misses the importance of InterDigital’s early ground-breaking patents essential to 3G WCDMA air interface. However, the report specifically recognizes that InterDigital, although not well known, “has built a large patent portfolio in all 3G network technologies…” (3.4) The report demonstrates InterDigital’s remarkable strength in patents related to TD-SCDMA, a standard that is becoming increasingly significant in the huge China market. The report also demonstrates InterDigital’s recent strong position in CDMA2000 as well as InterDigital’s relative strength in the emerging WiMax technology, seen by some as a competitor to 3G. This research report, from a prominent international corporate finance advisory service specializing in telecommunications technology, provides substantiation of InterDigital’s extraordinary patent strength in mobile communications. It also points to the future value potential of "this relatively unknown American firm, InterDigital Communications Corp (Nasdaq:IDCC). Bill Dalglish
Posted by: MTJBKH I need some help here. Figure 9 shows WCDMA patents by company. No sign of us. Figure 10 shows us huge in CDMA2000. Are these 2 charts correct?
Posted by: mschere Keep in mind that ALL TD-SCDMA handsets will be dual mode GSM/TD-SCDMA..and while IDCC has some GSM licensing royalty expiring year end 2006, 2007 & 2008..IDCC will be paid under the terms of their 3G PLA's..That explains Management's repeated statement that they are Focused on 3G.. Posted by: olddog967 Jim: Just did a quick read. As you indicated a very interesting report. It has a lot of statistics about various market shares to further confuse me. Since I don't really follow the technical side of IDCC, what surprised me was the report's emphasis on IDCC's involvement in China's TDSCDMA. I guess I will have to pay more attention to the upcoming rollout over there.
Posted by: JimLur To all and oldog, Here's a very long report by Bristol York that's over 40 pages long. I'm sure olddog is going to enjoy this one. http://wirelessledger.com/TelecomsReport.pdf
Posted by: olddog967 ellismd: What has been posted is the executive summary of the report. The report date is Oct 2005. The report itself has a great deal more detail, and is available for 425 english pounds. http://scientific.thomson.com/news/newsletter/2005-10/8293094/ I posted a Bristol Report a while back. I just wanted to know if it was the same report. I will check later tonight.
Posted by: xdx "Interdigital emerges as the New Qualcomm". I remember that statement (actually, the "Baby Qualcomm") back in 1999 when we shot to 82.
osted by: mschere Six Months Head Start for China’s Own 3G Standard The latest rumours to emerge from China concerning the launch of 3G, predict that China Telecom, the country's largest fixed line operator, and China Mobile, the largest mobile operator in China, will join forces to build and operate a next generation mobile phone network using the home grown TD-SCDMA standard. According to reports on the Asia in Focus website, this could happen as early as July of this year, when the government will issue the two domestic giants with the first licence. Quoting a respected analyst from China the website predicts that the two telecoms giants will be handed a head start on other companies wishing to launch "traditional" W-CDMA and CDMA2000, 3G networks. It appears likely that China Mobile will also be given a W-CDMA licence in early 2007 while China Unicom will pick up a CDMA2000 franchise at the same time. The commencement of building work on the TD-SCDMA network is rumoured to be penciled in for September of this year, the article said. Posted by: lotoworld Great Jim: More TD-SCDMA patents then anybody else and right up there with the biggies with CDMA patents too. "BABY Q", is right!
Posted by: JimLur To all, Here's a link to a Bristol York report and IDCC is mentioned on page 3. http://www.bristolyork.co.uk/report_preview/BY_SummaryReport.pdf RE: InterDigital's rich patent trove in TD-SCDMA: "InterDigital Emerges as the New Qualcomm" (-WL ed.)
Posted by: mschere 3G mobile standard trial to end The ongoing trial of TD-SCDMA, the home-grown third generation (3G) mobile standard, will end in the third quarter of this year. So said Yang Hua, secretary-general of the TD-SCDMA Industrial Alliance. A source with one of the three telecom operators involved in the trial said it is expected to conclude in late July. The trial, believed to be the last test before licences are granted for commercial use, has been carried out in five Chinese cities since last month. TD-SCDMA is a mobile telephone standard for wireless network operators which want to move from a second generation (2G) wireless network to a third-generation (3G) one. There are other 3G standards, such as WCDMA, but China has also developed its own, TD-SCDMA. The five trial locations are Beijing, Shanghai, Baoding in Hebei Province, Qingdao in Shandong Province and Xiamen in Fujian Province. "These are the final preparations for commercial operation," said Yang, adding: "Previoust rials have greatly accelerated the development of the whole industry." He said a complete TD-SCDMA industrial chain, from core networks to antennas, has been established, laying a solid foundation for the healthy development of the sector. Yang expected TD-SCDMA mobile phones to be ready in the third quarter of this year. Many industry veterans believe handsets are the weakest link in the TD-SCDMA industrial chain. Yang said handsets now have the basic functions and have improved significantly this year. "Handset reliability and power-saving capacity have reached the level of commercial operation," he said. "At the moment, our major task is to develop new applications in the handsets." Yang said the number of TD-SCDMA handset developers has increased, from 12 in 2005 to more than 20 this year. He said the current annual shipment capacity is millions of units. "With increasing market demand, the capacity will further rise," added Yang. Yang also said TD-SCDMA network equipment is already getting closer to commercial standards. Network equipment vendors include Shenzhen-based ZTE, Beijing-based Datang and TD Tech Ltd, a joint venture between Siemens and Huawei. It is thought equipment supplied by TD Tech is being used in Baoding and Xiamen. TD Tech CEO Steven Yeo said the firm which was only set up last year is ready for the commercial use of TD-SCDMA. It will roll out the second lot of TD-SCDMA commercial products in mid-2006, which will be more compact and easier to transport and install. "TD Tech has successfully changed from a research and development company into a vendor that has extended its business to manufacturing and sales," said Yeo. TD Tech has developed a wide range of commercial application solutions, he added. Wang Zhong, vice-president of the firm, said it has developed a solution for users to roam between GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and TD-SCDMA networks. He said it will take time for the 3G signal to cover every part of China, so GSM will supplement the lack of 3G coverage during the early stages. He added that TD Tech has developed a fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) solution, particularly useful for fixed-line operators. FMC describes a wide range of mobile services that ‘converge‘ aspects of fixed communications infrastructure to complement mobile services. There has been speculation that when fixed-line incumbent China Telecom has the TD-SCDMA license it will become a full service provider so it can resist losses brought about by the increasing number of calls made on mobile phones. Source:China Daily mschere
Posted by: mschere My Comment..InterDigital has been issued 236 Patents in China.
Posted by: mschere MPEG licensing body makes deals in China Intellectual property (IP) clearing house MPEG LA is making moves to deepen its reach into China, inking agreements in Beijing on April 27. The deals struck with Chinese industry groups covered its MPEG-2 patent portfolio and may lead to better compliance by local exporters of consumer electronics equipment such as DVD players. According to the press release, the agreements come as China tries to put its best foot forward on the heels of high-level meetings with U.S. officials during the past few weeks, including meetings between the Chinese and U.S. presidents. IP figured highly in those discussions. Chinas DVD player manufacturers have a tense relationship with DVD patent holders and MPEG LA. Larry Horn, president of the licensing agency, said signing the agreement in Beijing with industry groups representing DVD player makers signaled that China is willing to make progress on IP rights. He acknowledged, however, that MPEG LA still needs to strike individual agreements with Chinas numerous DVD makers. Horn said no deals were made to lower the fees charged to DVD makers in China, and they will still be liable for past obligations. However, the agreement allows for any overdue payments to be made in future incremental installments or a lump sum. Thats a good way of taking care of their back royalty obligations but not bullying them and running them out of business. Its not in our interests or the patent holders interests to see them fail, he said. Despite its rocky relationship with local OEMs and manufacturers, Horn said MPEG LA is also in China this week to drum up interest in its business model. Although the country is overwhelmingly a net importer of technology, he believes that will change over the long term and develop into a situation where Chinese companies will be looking for licensing models to monetize their IP. No deals have been made yet. In the coming months and years, MPEG LA will reach out to Chinese companies and industry groups working on standards to convey how they might benefit from the MPEG LA model. - Mike Clendenin mschere
Posted by: Goodbuddy4863 TD-SCDMA,W-CDMA or CDMA-2000 Old News... Which one will win out in China... http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HD13Cb05.html
Posted by: mschere Most have forgotten the China TD-SCDMA impact.. Regarding China & TD-SCDMA Patents.. InterDigital holds 10X more Patents for TD-SCDMA than Qualcomm.. IDCC and Philips have MORE TD-SCDMA Patents than all the leading IP owners combined.. LG,Siemens, Philips, and InterDigital hold the vast majority of TD-SCDMA Intellectual property. GSM/TD-SCDMA handsets are estimated to account for nearly 25% of all Handsets to be sold in 2008. All of IDCC's 3G Licenses include TD-SCDMA . mschere
|
| Important Disclaimer |
We welcome your comments! All Rights Reserved. Bill Dalglish |
Direct site comments to Music City Design, LLC |
posts and threads related to 
Editor's note: The 
The verdict, announced by a Beijing court Friday afternoon, overturns a ruling by the country's patent review board. In July 2004, the board sided with a group of about a dozen Chinese generic-drug makers that had banded together to challenge New York-based Pfizer's patent on sildenafil citrate, the main ingredient in the popular impotence drug.
At stake is nothing less than the future of the wireless infrastructure business. Leading European players, such as Ericsson (ERICY ) and Nokia (NOK ) can't afford to miss the opportunity to supply 3G equipment to China. But the profit margins aren't likely to be great -- suggesting that winning deals in China could be more about maintaining market share and prestige than fattening the bottom line.
The future of the mobile industry is now being driven by the mass market. China is a huge economic force -- its very size, like India's, gives it tremendous market muscle. And while demographics may not allow 3G mobile penetration across the whole of Chinese or Indian society, it's only a matter of time until the economies of scale in these massive emerging markets give 3G the success that it has not achieved elsewhere.
