(InfoWorld Daily via NewsEdge) Qualcomm, in a move to expand its expertise in developing chip sets and other systems for multimedia mobile phones, has agreed to acquire Qualphone, a maker of Internet-based multimedia software.
Qualcomm, the pioneer of CDMA technology, will pay $18 million in cash for Qualphone. The acquisition is expected to be completed later this month.
Qualphone offers an IMS software platform that enables integrated and interactive voice, text, picture and video features in handsets on 3G network technologies, including W-CDMA and cdma2000.
The company also offers technology for testing service interoperability.
Mobile phone operators, in particular, are keen to add multimedia services to tap new revenue streams as margins slip for their cash-cow voice service, which is becoming a commodity in many developed markets.
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