 | Issue: | Global-ICT 2008 |
| Article no.: | 9 | |
| Topic: | Mobile technology – empowering the world | |
| Author: | Dr Paul E. Jacobs | |
| Title: | CEO | |
| Organisation: | Qualcomm Inc | |
| PDF size: | 212KB |
About author
Dr Paul E. Jacobs is CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated and a member of the Board of Directors. Dr Jacobs has served in a variety of executive posts at Qualcomm including Executive VP and Group President of QWI, Senior Vice President, President of QCP, and Executive VP of Qualcomm. Dr Jacobs has been granted more than 25 patents for his inventions in the area of wireless technology. Dr Jacobs endowed the ‘Paul and Stacy Jacobs Distinguished Professor of Engineering’ Chair at the University of California-Berkeley. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi honour societies. Dr Jacobs serves on the boards of A123Systems and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the University of California-Berkeley, College of Engineering; the Advisory Board of University of California-San Diego, Jacobs School of Engineering; and the Young President’s Organization. Dr Jacobs received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley.
Article abstract
The use of wireless technology is expanding at an astounding rate. With the help of extremely low-priced handsets and affordable services people at the lowest levels in emerging markets are adopting mobile phones at an ever accelerating rate. The vision of a fully connected global society is rapidly becoming a reality and people everywhere are benefiting from access to information, to markets, education, healthcare and government services. Mobile phone and Internet penetration both bring significant improvement in national GDP.
Full Article
Wireless technology is the world’s leading consumer product. While wireless has already spurred tremendous changes in the way people interact, we are at the early stages of a world that benefits from providing ubiquitous connectivity to all of its people and to all of their information and inspirations. In looking ahead, the vision our industry shares is one of a fully connected society – a global community that has access to information and one another, regardless of location or economic position. More times than not, powerful visions such as these are easier to conceive than to implement. However, if there is one thing I have witnessed during my career, it is that our industry has risen to meet tremendous challenges set before us. Who could have imagined that those bulky, expensive cellular phones of the early days, which could only be used by the wealthiest people, would morph into tiny US$20 devices that are spreading voice and data communications throughout rural India? This industry not only imagined it, but made it a reality. It is perhaps this recognition of what the wireless ecosystem has made possible to date that gives me the most confidence in our ability to expand and extend the promise of mobile technology for all. Extending the promise globally As we consider the role wireless technology will continue to have in the realization of the information society, we continue to expand the capabilities and functionality of wireless devices – ranging from education to commerce to healthcare – to tackle the toughest issues affecting the world around us. During a recent project launch in Guatemala, an executive was showing an elementary school student how to access the Internet from a computer. He asked the girl about her favourite animal – a rabbit – and instantly brought up a picture of a rabbit with a world map that identified all the countries where those rabbits lived – including Guatemala. As he continued to tell her about the power of the Internet, she began looking around the room and under the desk. When he asked what she was looking for, she responded with great curiosity, “I’m looking for all of those things we are seeing! Where are they?” A novelty to that young girl today, there is no doubt about the impact that access to this technology will have on the opportunities she and her community will be able to realize in the years ahead. After all, 3G networks go beyond the delivery of voice connectivity to address issues of public importance such as Internet connectivity, education, entrepreneurship, healthcare and public safety in a sustainable, efficient and cost effective manner. I have seen how 3G can transform lives by enhancing the ways by which people learn. With 3G Internet access, teachers and students can explore the world like never before – via the Internet. We have witnessed success in schools equipped with 3G wireless Internet access on computers and smartphones. The technology has opened up an entirely new world. Teachers are amazed by how quickly they can download and access materials on the Internet, while students are able to surf the Internet to, virtually, visit faraway lands or join classroom discussions and lesson plan assistance when away from the classroom. The role of wireless technology in furthering economies and businesses is increasingly critical and is an important economic stimulus. Research has established a strong correlation between information and communications technology (ICT) use and overall economic growth. Improvements in either mobile phone or Internet penetrations are strongly correlated with significant GDP improvement: a one per cent increase in Internet penetration is correlated with an increase of US$493 in per capita GDP. Whether it is found in a mobile phone, fixed wireless phone, wireless modem or data card, 3G is the most affordable way to provide voice and data access to rural areas where landline access is limited or simply does not exist. For governments, wireless broadband is a fundamental way to increase their countries’ tele-density and Internet penetration rates. For citizens, 3G may represent their first, or only, experience in accessing the Internet, their principal way to make a phone call or a vital tool to improve their economic condition. I have already seen 3G empower people in developing communities that had limited or no telecommunications access. In Neglasari, a small village on the island of Java in Indonesia, Mrs Halimah serves her community as a village phone operator. Members of the community recognize Mrs Halimah and trust her to give them affordable mobile phone services. Mrs Halimah’s important role in connecting her neighbours with their families is a result of her being able to leverage micro-financing to purchase a ‘business in a box’ consisting of a wireless 3G CDMA-based phone and charger, marketing materials, tariff posters, business cards and training materials. These entrepreneurs can operate their businesses in rural areas where telecommunication services did not previously exist, renting the use of their phones within their communities on a per-call basis. From communication with relatives, to updates on commodity prices and knowledge of new business opportunities, the information that these villagers now have available to them is making a very real impact on their lives. We can significantly contribute to the development of rural communities by joining forces with other organizations from outside the wireless industry that also are committed to making a difference in the world. Together, we are already creating sustainable projects that enable these communities to enjoy an improved quality of life. Expanding the capabilities of wireless technology While many of the world’s emerging markets are discovering wireless connectivity for the first time, wealthier economies have an array of options for wireless technology and anytime access. The increasing popularity of smartphones is putting the full power of the Internet in handsets and pocketable devices. Chip companies are enabling the imaginations of device designers by giving them new levels of performance, connectivity and mobility coupled with decreasing cost, size and power consumption. Data requirements are increasing with each device generation; multiple communication options are often supported to provide maximum performance or coverage for the wide variety of real world conditions. Continuous advances in hardware integration are leading to devices with more processing power, storage, memory and higher resolution displays. For the consumer, this means access to a multitude of next-generation wireless Internet applications, without being tethered to a traditional computer. Productivity applications such as mobile banking and payment, email and entertainment applications, and services such as music and gaming downloads are being brought to market by a converged ecosystem of companies from the media, Internet, financial and wireless industries. This convergence is leading not only to new classes of devices, but also resulting in cross-pollination of functionality between existing devices. Phones are gaining consumer electronics features, such as cameras, navigation systems and media players, and consumer electronics devices, such as the Amazon Kindle e-book and the Apple iPod, are connecting with the network. As devices become more feature-rich, they often consume information from a wider variety of sources and communicate over several different networks, including 3G cellular, WiFi, GPS and MediaFLO broadcast. The impact these tools are having on day-to-day tasks – paying bills, watching television, consuming music and entertainment, knowing where you are and what’s around you – is transforming the way consumers live, work, and play. The future is in our handhelds Much has been said about the financial benefits of extending wireless service offerings to underserved regions of the world. No matter how different the cultures, at a basic level the market needs in every country are similar – a seamless connection to each other and to the mobile Internet. Whether it is the ability of fishermen in India to check on the market price of their daily catch or to help overcome educational challenges in the United States, worldwide adoption of 3G is being driven by the consumer’s desire to be connected at all times to an ever-expanding list of people, services and information. Through continued industry collaboration and open innovation, we can help drive real growth and advancement for citizens globally. If we continue our history as an industry that spreads innovative new devices, networks and applications worldwide, the ability to deliver on the promise of a truly global and fully connected information society is literally in our hands.
