Qualcomm (QCOM) says it has granted TechFaith Wireless, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China TechFaith (CNTF), a royalty-bearing, worldwide license under Qualcomm's patent portfolio to develop, manufacture and sell subscriber units and modem cards implementing the WCDMA and TD-SCDMA standards.

TechFaith is now licensed by Qualcomm for 3G subscriber units and modem cards that implement the CDMA2000, WCDMA/UMTS and/or TD-SCDMA standards. The royalties payable by TechFaith are at Qualcomm's standard worldwide rates and are the same irrespective of the CDMA standard implemented by the subscriber unit or modem card.

"We are experiencing increased momentum in the worldwide transition from 2G to 3G mobile services," said Marvin Blecker, president of Qualcomm Technology Licensing. "The expansion of TechFaith's licenses from Qualcomm to including these additional 3G CDMA technologies will ensure that they remain highly competitive in the global market by offering advanced wireless handsets and modem cards to customers throughout the world."