Cellular Communications: A Dynamic Past and More Exciting Future – Even Now

Dr. Jacobs will discuss his path from University Professor to Founder of Linkabit and Qualcomm and his role in the development of several innovative products. In particular, he will trace the history of CDMA from concept to the basis of all third generation cellular systems. Cellular phones, now used by over 4 billion subscribers worldwide, have evolved from simple telephony to powerful computers with always-on connectivity to the Internet and with position location, game-quality graphics, camera and camcorder capability, and interactive broadcast TV receivers. Beyond entertainment, they are key to economic growth and support an increasing range of social services. He will describe several pilot projects initiated by Qualcomm in over 25 countries.
Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs is co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of Qualcomm Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology. Dr. Jacobs has served as chief executive officer of the Company until July 2005. Dr. Jacobs has led the commercialization of CDMA technology and its success as the world’s fastest-growing, most-advanced voice and data wireless communications technology. He holds several CDMA patents, contributing to Qualcomm’s extensive portfolio of issued U.S. and foreign patent and pending applications. From 1959 to 1966, Dr. Jacobs was an assistant/associate professor of electrical engineering at MIT. From 1966 to 1972 he served as a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California, San Diego. At MIT, Dr. Jacobs co-authored a basic textbook on digital communicaitons entitled, “principles of Communication Engineering.” First published in 1965, the book remains in use today. Dr. Jacobs received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1956 from Cornell University and master of science and doctor of science in electrical engineering from MIT in 1957 and 1959, respectively. Dr. Jacobs is a Fellow of the IEEE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He was named Chair of the National Academy of Engineering in May 2008. Dr. Jacobs is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including, in 1994, the National Medal of Technology Award, the highest award bestowed by the president of the United States “for extraordinary achievements in commercialization of technology, or the development of human resources that foster technology commercialization.”