Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), will begin to build its 4G network in the U.S. The faster wireless operation is meant to compete with technologies like WiMAX, which Sprint (NYSE: S) may deploy.
The new platform will be built using pieces supplied by Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and others. Technology from Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM), which has been the core of much of the 2G build-out, will be missing. The FT writes that "Qualcomm and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) were dealt a blow on Thursday when Verizon Wireless, the second-largest U.S. mobile phone operator, said it would start trials in 2008 of a rival fourth-generation network standard." Intel has been a champion of WiMAX.
The sun is setting on Qualcomm. It has been in intellectual property disputes with Nokia and chip rival Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM), and has lost the early rounds in most of these. If the company is passed by for the next generation of cellular technology, it could end up a smaller, marginal company.
Qualcomm has not been a growth stock for over a year. And it may never be one again.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.
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