Who founded Qualcomm Incorporated and when was it established?
Qualcomm was founded on July 1, 1985, in San Diego, California, by seven engineers and scientists: Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, Dr. Andrew Viterbi, Harvey White, Adelia Coffman, Andrew Cohen, Klein Gilhousen, and Franklin Antonio.
What does the name 'QUALCOMM' stand for?
The founders chose the name 'QUALCOMM' as an acronym for 'QUALity COMMunications', reflecting their founding mission to create superior digital wireless communications systems.
Who was Dr. Irwin Jacobs and what was his academic background?
Dr. Irwin Jacobs was an electrical engineering professor at MIT and UC San Diego and co-author of the seminal textbook 'Principles of Communication Engineering'. Prior to Qualcomm, Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi co-founded Linkabit Corporation in 1968, a pioneering military satellite communications company.
Who was Dr. Andrew Viterbi and what is the famous 'Viterbi Algorithm'?
Dr. Andrew Viterbi is a well-known mathematician and engineer who invented the 'Viterbi Algorithm' in 1967, a groundbreaking mathematical decoding formula that filters digital data from background noise, utilized today in nearly every cellular phone, satellite, and hard drive on Earth.
What was OmniTRACS and how did it save Qualcomm in its early years?
In 1988, Qualcomm launched OmniTRACS, a major two-way satellite tracking and messaging system for commercial long-haul trucking fleets. OmniTRACS generated the vital cash flow that funded Qualcomm's multi-million-dollar CDMA cellular research in the late 1980s.
When did Qualcomm complete its initial public offering (IPO)?
Qualcomm completed its initial public offering (IPO) on NASDAQ in December 1991, raising $68 million to accelerate the commercial deployment of CDMA cellular networks across the United States and Asia.
How did the founders prove CDMA worked during the famous 'San Diego Demonstration' in 1989?
In November 1989, amidst fierce skepticism from major telecommunications carriers, the founders drove vans equipped with experimental CDMA radios through the hilly terrain of San Diego, proving in live tests that CDMA provided pristine call quality and 10x capacity over competing technologies.
What founding ethos established in 1985 continues to drive Qualcomm?
The founding ethos of tackling 'impossible' mathematical and engineering challenges through foundational research and daring commercial vision remains the bedrock of Qualcomm's global corporate identity.
Who were the founders of Qualcomm?
Qualcomm was founded on July 1, 1985, by seven engineers: Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, Dr. Andrew J. Viterbi, Franklin Antonio, Adelia A. Coffman, Andrew Cohen, Klein S. Gilhousen, and Harvey P. White.
What company did the founders build prior to Qualcomm?
Prior to Qualcomm, Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi co-founded Linkabit Corporation in 1968, a pioneering consulting and digital communications company that developed military satellite systems and spawned San Diego’s telecom tech hub.
What was the meaning behind the name "Qualcomm"?
The name Qualcomm is a portmanteau of "Quality Communications", reflecting the founders’ mission to develop mathematically superior digital transmission systems.
What is the "Viterbi Algorithm" invented by co-founder Andrew Viterbi?
In 1967, Andrew Viterbi invented the Viterbi Algorithm, a mathematical formula for decoding digital data transmitted over noisy channels; it remains a foundational algorithm in satellite communications, cellular networks, and digital audio.
Where did the founders first meet to establish the company?
The seven founders met on July 1, 1985, around the dining table at Dr. Irwin Jacobs’ home in San Diego, California, agreeing to contribute personal funds without an initial business plan or product in mind.
What was Adelia Coffman’s role among the founders?
Adelia Coffman was Qualcomm’s founding Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, establishing financial controls, early banking relationships, and investor structures that financed early CDMA research.
What honors have the founders received for their scientific contributions?
Both Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and the IEEE Medal of Honor, and are inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
What enduring philosophy from the founders guides Qualcomm today?
The founders’ core philosophy—that investing in fundamental mathematical and physical science solves problems that others believe are impossible—remains Qualcomm’s driving innovation principle.