Former Qualcomm executives are starting a new 5G company to focus on wireless technologies for mobile. Paul Jacobs, the former CEO and chairman of Qualcomm, is joined by former CTO Matt Grob and former President Derek Aberle in forming the company XCOM.
XCOM, launched yesterday, will focus on designing advanced wireless technology.
Jacobs will be XCOM’s CEO and chairman, with Grobb heading up development as CTO and Aberle as president and COO. XCOM is based in San Diego, Calif., where Qualcomm is also based.
Jacobs, the son of Qualcomm’s co-founder Irwin Jacobs, was ousted by Qualcomm’s board earlier this year after he said he wanted to take Qualcomm private. Qualcomm avoided a hostile takeover bid by Broadcom earlier this year that was ultimately blocked by the Trump administration and is still in the process of trying to complete its purchase of NXP.
Grob, former CTO of Qualcomm left Qualcomm suddenly in May, announcing his departure on Twitter. Grob worked at Qualcomm since 1991, when he started as an engineer. He rose through the ranks to become CTO in 2011. At Qualcomm, Aberle headed the patent-licensing business.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Jacobs and Aberle are still trying to buy Qualcomm even as they get their new company off the ground. The founders are funding XCOM for an undisclosed amount.
XCOM’s web presence is minimal at this point: just three pages. XCOM’s website says XCOM is “inventing and investing in wireless technologies to propel the next mobile revolution.” Needless to say, the company is hiring.
