How Qualcomm shook down the cell phone industry for almost 20 years [telecom]

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We did a deep-dive into the 233-page ruling declaring Qualcomm a monopolist.

By Timothy B. Lee

In 2005, Apple contacted Qualcomm as a potential supplier for modem chips in the first iPhone. Qualcomm's response was unusual: a letter demanding that Apple sign a patent licensing agreement before Qualcomm would even consider supplying chips.

"I'd spent 20 years in the industry, I had never seen a letter like this," said Tony Blevins, Apple's vice president of procurement.

I'm always amused when a brand name player has a temper tantrum about a supplier that refuses to prostrate themselves at the mega-corp door.

Bill Horne Moderator