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September 5, 2005 Vol. 77, no. 2F
QUALCOMM CEO and EECS alum to speak on next-generation cell phone technology and applicationsA quarter of the cell phone users worldwide, including Sprint and Verizon customers in the United States, use technology developed by San Diego-based QUALCOMM, a $5 billion-a-year, Fortune-500 company. Indeed, in the world of wireless, QUALCOMM is a giant. Lucky for you, though, its newly appointed CEO is a Berkeley Engineering alum, and he’s returning to campus on Wednesday, September 7. Come hear Paul Jacobs (B.S.’84, M.S.’86, Ph.D.’89 EECS) share his company’s vision for next-generation cell phones and the technologies that underlie them. This is a rare opportunity for Berkeley students to hear about the future of this technology from one of the industry’s leaders. Jacobs will deliver his talk entitled, “Not just talk: 3G CDMA,” at 4 p.m. in Sibley Auditorium. It’s the first in the College’s 2005-2006 “View from the Top” lecture series. “People hear how voice and data networks will evolve from the computer industry’s point of view, but wireless comes at it from a different angle,” says Jacobs. “There’s another philosophy that’s pretty exciting.” Jacobs, who lives in the San Diego area with his wife and Berkeley alumna Stacy, returns to the campus where he spent close to a decade as an engineering student. “My first month of school, I was in shock,” he recalls. “I remember walking from my dorm room over to People’s Park and along Telegraph and not knowing where I was. I grew up in La Jolla and now I was living in a place that had so much going on, not just with school but the whole environment. I like Berkeley because of its diversity.” He met his wife during a freshmen mixer. Jacobs was always a high achiever, and his rise at QUALCOMM is no exception. In his first five years in the company’s engineering division, he produced technology that led to more than 25 patents in the area of wireless technology and devices. When asked whether he has advice for engineering students, Jacobs stresses that getting a “strong foundational education” is key. “But the big thing is just to try and remain creative,” he says. “Think not just about the technology side, but how to apply it to people. It can’t just be a cool idea; you need figure out how it will be used.” Take advantage of Berkeley’s interdisciplinary approach, Jacobs advises. “QUALCOMM is looking at putting healthcare devices into phones, so now you’re getting into biology. There’s a convergence of technologies today where you need to understand more and more about the other guy’s issues. People who can understand multiple sides and work in partnership with others who have a different point of view are critical.” Meet Paul Jacobs Wednesday, September 7, at 4 p.m. in Sibley Auditorium. Admission is free but arrive early for optimal seating. Free refreshments will be served afterward. Look for news of upcoming “View from the Top” lectures in Engineering News.
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