Banned Qualcomm chips now imported by everyone…other than Qualcomm

Broadcom_logo_smallThis Broadcom vs. Qualcomm dispute continues to get more bizarre by the day. Originally, all Qualcomm chip-based new handsets and devices not currently available in the U.S. were banned by the International Trade Commission. Qualcomm appealed and lost. Meanwhile, Verizon cut a direct deal with Broadcom get around the issue; oddly, the same deal offered to Broadcom by Qualcomm was rejected.

A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled a stay on the ban for now. Effectively, any third-party company that offers a handheld with the Qualcomm chips in question can bring the devices into the U.S. Actually, those companies that filed for a stay are the benefactors here, but I suspect most of the major players impacted did just that. The interesting part: Qualcomm can’t bring their own chips in to the U.S. as a result of the stay; not that they do as a matter of business practice, but doesn’t this all seem silly? Ideally, Broadcom and Qualcomm need to do what’s in both of their company’s names: communicate and work this out. In any case, the stay should alleviate any fears of new devices being held back: good news for folks interested in the HTC Shift.

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