高通淡看蘋果三星專利之爭

????就在移動行業很多公司仍在試圖弄清蘋果（Apple）-三星（Samsung）世紀宣判的影響時，至少有一家行業巨頭——高通（Qualcomm）信心滿滿，相信判決結果不會波及它的業務。這家總部位于圣迭戈的公司制作的芯片在數百款不同型號的智能手機中都能看到，只要這個行業整體繼續增長，高通就將繼續增長。當然，這家移動芯片制造商自身對于專利侵權訴訟并不陌生（這或許就是為什么它很高興在一旁靜觀蘋果-三星爭端的發展）。2008年高通了結了與諾基亞（Nokia）之間持續多年的訴訟拉鋸戰，如今兩家公司已經建立了緊密的合作關系——事實上高通為所有的微軟（Microsoft）Windows Phone智能手機提供芯片，包括諾基亞Lumia系列手機。很多的谷歌（Google）安卓（Android）智能手機和一些蘋果產品上也能找到高通芯片。日前我們采訪到了高通首席執行官保羅?雅各布，聽聽他是怎么看待蘋果-三星里程碑式的判決、即將發布的Windows 8手機，以及他打算怎么做，來激起消費者對于他們智能手機中芯片的期盼。

????《財富》雜志（FORTUNE）：蘋果-三星的判決對于即將推出的Windows 8手機有何影響，對高通有何影響？

????雅各布：我不想太多地涉入法律問題，但過去我們也經歷過一些這樣的事情。2005年我接手高通時，我們一下子遭到很多人起訴，包括現在已經成為我們合作伙伴的諾基亞?，F實狀況是初審判決后，往往會有漫長的上訴。但從我們的觀點來看，這看上去不會對芯片業務有多少影響。這項判決基本上都是關于較老款的手機，不是較新的產品。當然，我們會幫助我們的合作伙伴渡過難關，我們肯定不想看到這個行業變得這么熱衷訴訟，希望能繼續走下去。至于它對Windows 8的影響，我真的很難評判。

????能講講現在高通與諾基亞的關系嗎？你們相處得融洽嗎？

????雅各布：2008年我們與諾基亞簽署了一項協議，因此這都過去了?，F在，我們與諾基亞在產品設計方面的合作相當緊密。我們幫助他們推出新的手機。起初這是一項全新的合作關系，斯蒂芬?埃洛普（諾基亞首席執行官）上任后決定全力推動Windows Phone系列手機，這一合作大大加速。諾基亞在圣迭戈也設有機構，我們同他們在圣迭戈和芬蘭的人員都合作得相當緊密。這是非常好的合作關系，而且相當友好。我們為所有的Lumia系列手機提供芯片——所有的Windows手機都采用高通芯片。這是因為微軟設計Windows Phone時就進行了參考硬件設計，并表示將依托于此硬件進行優化。

????英特爾（Intel）呢？他們在移動領域有多款發布——你怎么看待他們的努力？

????雅各布：迄今為止他們所做的還只是試水。他們與幾家公司合作，并為一些設計提供資金。他們將這些設計推入市場，但賣得不是很好。他們將繼續推出下一個，再下一個芯片。他們如今討論的最大優勢是他們擁有制造優勢。英特爾發布的聲明似乎認為這個行業將止步不前，未來他們將取得領先，但事情不會這樣發展。ARM （高通采用的競爭性移動芯片架構）更高效?？梢哉f我們在晶體管上一直存在不足，但就整個系統而言擁有能耗優勢。因此，我認為這種競爭將繼續下去。

????很多其他的競爭對手也獲得了ARM授權，你們如何實現差異化，同時與制造商合作幫助、它們實現差異化？

????雅各布：我們有ARM的指令集授權，但自行設計微處理器。因此，我們比其他公司都領先一步。我們領先于ARM所做的事情，因為我們非常專注于移動領域。

????While much of the mobile industry is still reeling from last week's Apple-Samsung verdict, at least one wireless giant—Qualcomm—is confident the outcome won't hurt its business. The San Diego-based company's chips are found in hundreds of different smartphone models, and as long as the industry as a whole continues to grow, Qualcomm (QCOM) will keep growing too. Of course, the wireless chipmaker is no stranger to its own patent infringement lawsuits (which is probably why it's happy to watch this one unfold from the sidelines). Qualcomm resolved its long-standing legal battle with Nokia (NOK) back in 2008, and now the two companies have a tight partnership -- in fact, Qualcomm powers all Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Phone smartphones, including Nokia's Lumia line of devices. Its chips are also found in many Google (GOOG) Android smartphones and some Apple (AAPL) products. We caught up with Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs to get his take on last week's monumental verdict, upcoming Windows 8 devices and how he plans to get consumers psyched about the chips inside their smartphone.

????FORTUNE: What implications does the Apple-Samsung verdict have for upcoming Windows 8 phones, and for you?

????Jacobs: I don't want to get too much into the legal issues, but we've been through a few of these things in the past. When I took over in 2005 we got sued by a whole bunch of people all at once, including Nokia, who are now friends of ours. What happens is there's a big appeals process that always plays out so first that has to happen. But from our point of view it doesn't look like there's much impact on the chip business. This is mostly about older phones, not newer products. Of course we help our partners out, and we definitely want to see the industry not be so litigious and move forward. In terms of its impact on Windows 8, that's really hard for me to tell.

????Describe the relationship you have today with Nokia. You get along now?

????Jacobs: We signed a deal with them in 2008 so that's in the past. We work really closely with them on the product design side. We help them bring new phones out. In the beginning it was a brand new relationship but it really accelerated after Stephen [Elop, CEO of Nokia] came in and decided to go full force on Windows Phone. They have a facility in San Diego and we work with those guys and people in Finland really closely. It's a very good relationship and very friendly. We are on all the Lumia phones -- all of the Windows phones are Qualcomm-based. That's because when Microsoft did Windows Phone they made a reference hardware design and said that this is the hardware it will be optimized for.

????What about Intel? They've made a few announcements in the mobile space -- what do you think of their efforts?

????Jacobs: What they've done so far is really just dipped their toes in the water. They worked with a few companies and funded some designs. They brought them out to the market and they really didn't sell very well. They'll keep bringing out the next chip and the next chip. The big thing they're talking about now is having a manufacturing advantage. When Intel's making these statements they're looking at it like the industry will stay in the same space and they'll get the lead, but that's not the way it will play out. ARM [a competing mobile chip architecture, used by Qualcomm] is more efficient. We've always had a transistor disadvantage so to speak but the whole system together has a power advantage. So I think that will continue.

????Given that there are so many other competitors that license from ARM how do you differentiate and work with your manufacturers to help them differentiate?

????Jacobs: We license the instruction set from ARM but we actually design the microprocessor ourselves. What that allows us to do is get a jump on the other companies. We're ahead on what ARM's doing because we're so focused on mobile.