Qualcomm COO reportedly added to Microsoft's list of potential Ballmer successors

There are plenty of high profile names currently being bandied about as potential successors to Steve Ballmer's Redmond throne. Stephen Elop's name has been on the tip of a lot of tongues, thanks in no small part to his past Microsoft experience. And just about a month ago, Reuters noted that Ford CEO Alan Mulally's name had been added to the shortlist. Today Bloomberg's usual stable of "people familiar with the matter" note that Qualcomm's COO Steve Mollenkopf has also joined the elite ranks. Certainly the chipmaker has the sort of mobile expertise Microsoft's board is looking for during this ever-important transitional period. Of course the company isn't talking about whether it's considering asking the exec to leave sunny San Diego.