MEF Executive Questionnaire #2: Joe Barrett, Qualcomm

MEF continues to seek new ways to profile its members and promote the thought-leadership of the senior executives within these companies. We are pleased to launch the MEF Executive Questionnaire to reveal the real people behind the industry in an informal and entertaining manner.

This will be a regular feature of the MEF blog, so make sure you subscribe via email or RSS. If you are a senior executive from one of our member companies and would like to be featured then please contact MEF Marketing Director, Stephen Jenkins.

The second in the series is from Joe Barrett, Senior Director Strategic Marketing of Qualcomm, the provider of next-generation mobile technologies that accelerate wireless life.
1. Please describe briefly your main company activities and your role within that organisation
Qualcomm is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services. Qualcomm’s main businesses are Mobile System Modems, (Chips for mobile phones), Technology Licensing, Mobile Services and Mobile Platforms.

2. Without necessarily revealing any confidential information, please outline the principal business models your company uses
Qualcomm is a licensing, product and services company providing technology to mobile companies and operators to support the expansion and growth of the industry. We invest heavily in Research and Development to bring leading edge solutions to market and support our partners who are developing new devices and services.

3. What has been your company’s greatest achievement to-date?
The global adoption of CDMA based technologies - and BREW, the leading paid for mobile applications store in the industry

4. What is your company currently working on that is going to move the industry forward?
Advance mobile processors and chips that are supporting the convergence of PC Communications and Mobile Connectivity via new device categories such as Smartbooks, eReaders as well as Smartphones and connected laptops.

What is exciting you most in 2010 (either personally or professionally)?
The convergence of computing and communications into new types of devices that will increase the user experience of all services while mobile

6. What is the most important piece of technology in your life?
HSPA+ mobile broadband

7. What mobile device(s) do you use?
Blackberry and Palm Pre – but I change phones often to gain experiences of new devices, features and technologies.

8. What’s your favourite application?
E-mail

9. What’s your ringtone?
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen. Has been for the past 14 years

10. Which mobile industry blogs do you regularly read and why?
Varies based on topics being discussed

11. What is the biggest mobile content issue that is likely to affect the industry within the next 12 months?
Mobile Video going high definition and the impact on network capacity