Healthcare is a key industry for new Qualcomm-Verizon joint venture

Qualcomm is continuing what looks like an aggressive push into healthcare by forming a joint venture with Verizon Wireless to provide advanced "machine-to-machine" wireless services that might include linking medical devices with electronic medical records. "It has been a niche space that has been fragmented," Steve Pazol, who will head the yet-unnamed, San Diego-based venture, told IDG News Service. Pazol had been president of Qualcomm's Global Smart Services division.

Verizon exec Tony Lewis said that the venture has not decided on specific vertical markets to target, though a press release from the two companies specifically mentions the healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, distribution and consumer products industries.

For further information:
- check out the IDG News Service story in IT World
- see the joint press release from Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless
- read what our sister publication FierceWireless had to say about the announcement