Samsung pays Qualcomm $1.3 billion to secure wireless licenses
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Nov 9th 2009 6:11AM
posted Nov 9th 2009 6:11AM
Samsung and Qualcomm have wrapped up a cross-licensing deal with ten figures of US currency in it, which will permit the Korean giant to continue producing 3G- and 4G-enabled wireless devices for the next 15 years. In exchange, Samsung is letting Qualcomm make use of its own 57 patents on mobile technology and splashing out a further $1.3 billion as a down payment. Further royalty payments are involved, but not detailed, but just as a reference point, that's more than the new Dallas Cowboys stadium and its ultra-huge scoreboard cost to build. The move is a renewal of the two companies' current arrangement and Samsung has boldly claimed the terms of the new contract are more favorable to it, but we get the feeling the champagne will be flowing in San Diego this week.
$1,300,000,000
Gadget lovers rejoice. We will be the ones paying for all those zeros!
What's that like 30 won? No sweat!
Qualcomm: Pinky finger, One Point Three BILLION Dollars
Isn't that TEN figures? Either way, it's a nice chunk of change.
Wow. Thats a lot of money but I like samsung brand even though im an iphone user I love competition and always look forward to better phones. =)
9 figures because you only count what comes after the first digits.
Hell it could be 10 billion but it's still 9 figures.
You, sir, are an idiot.
That's enough to give everybody in the U.S. (just saying, no dis to other countries) a million dollars! No communist, but it's sad the way money is handled. Sorry folks, just went through a break-up with my girl. Not thinking properly...
Yeah the 1300 inhabitants of the States will be pumped :S
More like four dollars per person.
I can see why she broke up with you.
What's up with the two comments in a row of math fail?
I'm pretty sure that is incorrect. If you make six figures that means 100,000 +.
Sounds frightening. I guess the iPhone hype will continue.
What does this mean for other companies for the next 15 years. Does this mean technological improvement will improve more slowly now it seems that monopoly is back?
Pay attention apple. This is how it works. I'm sure Samsung would be more than willing to answer any questions you have about the process. No need to be embarassed.
Qualcomm SUCKS. They are one of the main reasons WinMo-devices appear to be fail-tech. MSM7xxx chipsets - go to hell!
Yes, Qualcomm sucks, like those new snapdragon processors they make. I mean the QSD8672, it's only a dual-core, 1.5 GHz mobile processor. Oh yeah, and don't forget about the whole CDMA thing. Qualcomm can't make anything good.
End Sarcasm
U got benchmarks for me, eh?! You know they can compete with Tegra, eh?!
Qualcomm DOES SUCK. It took them 3 years to finally start to try to pave over their MSM72xx crud with their finally performing 82xx. That's 3 years and 3+ generations of devices these bandits made off your wallets.
And in 3 years, this 82xx is still half the graphical speed of an "slower" iPhone 3GS.
*imagines Nokia eyeballing Apple and saying 'excellent' while petting Nokia patent portfolio on his lap*
At least half the phones in Japan, that Engadget fanboys worship, are using Qualcomm chipsets, and have been for 10 years. Maybe they don't suck, eh?
Cashhh Moneyyy lol.