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Wireless Industry For more information about our capabilities or to confidentially request information or a site search in our region, contact Tony Schum, Director, Economic Development, at 512.322.5681 or tschum@austinchamber.com. Tony will be at several industry conferences around the country during 2008. See our Calendars page for more information. Read Austin Wireless News at the Austin Wireless Alliance web site.

The wireless revolution continues to change the world. Much of this revolution is centered here in Austin.

Austin is home to a vibrant wireless cluster. More than 100 companies employing 4,000 people do business in the wireless industry as either software or hardware developers or service providers. Global mobile applications are built using software tools originally developed in Austin.

Austin’s attractiveness as a place to live and work is a huge draw for companies in the wireless sector. Our technological infrastructure, business climate, cultural arts scene, talent pool and natural beauty make Austin a place where wireless companies can innovate and find success.

Austin is a growing, high-tech city with an extremely attractive quality of life. it represents an ideal environment for the innovators we need at Freescale while providing a tremendous opportunity for our employees to give back to the community where they live and work.
—Rich Beyer, CEO, Freescale Semiconductor

Austin is globally recognized for our great quality of life and dynamic high-tech economy. Austin is a wireless hub, with major design centers or headquarters for the top four wireless semiconductor companies. Billions of chips manufactured or designed in Austin power millions of mobile phones and wireless devices. Austin is the top city in the country in terms of broadband penetration and third in terms of wireless access. And there are more exciting developments happening every day.

• Motorola Austin’s Center of Excellence designs and develops 4G emerging cellular technologies, hardware applications and advanced wireless networking systems.
• QUALCOMM Austin’s DSP Design Center focuses on research and development of cutting edge digital signal processors and the next generation of hardware technologies used in wireless modems and multimedia applications. QUALCOMM’s next generation DSPs will drive multimedia entertainment on CDMA phones being designed in Austin.
• Freescale Semiconductor is headquartered in Austin and has the number one communications processor in the world – powering products that connect us, entertain us and make our lives better.
• The University of Texas at Austin and the City of Austin fund the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), one of the most successful technical business incubators in the country, launching four public companies and creating over 70 successful tech startups. The ATI Wireless division is focused on harnessing resources and providing support for local wireless and related technology companies.
• NXP’s newly acquired “single chip” cellular technology and RF transceivers were conceived of and developed by Silicon Labs in Austin and drives over 80% of NXP’s 3 cellular platforms.
• AT&T’s cell phone testing and validation takes place in Austin and AT&T’s research and development in IMS is co-managed by AT&T Labs in Austin. This is one of four major R&D facilities in the country to design and validate next generation wireless technologies, including IPTV and media convergence.
• The Wi-Fi Alliance®, which created the term “Wi-Fi,” leads the fast growing, global Wi-Fi industry from Austin with 300 certified companies.
• The annual Texas Wireless Summit facilitates networking and interactive discussions for executives to provide key insights on the future of the wireless industry.

Technology is a significant part of our economy. There are 3,400 companies in the tech sector – from large Fortune 500 companies like Dell and Freescale – to smaller tech startups. All together these companies employ over 100,000 or 18% of the private sector workforce and 34% of the private sector payroll. Here are some prominent examples from our wireless community:

Connect to the Top Talent Pool
Our talent pool may be the most energetic, innovative and educated in the world. Over 38% have attained a college degree or higher, compared to the national average of under 28%. Here, the best and brightest lead many diverse tech companies. And you’ll find like minds coming every day to join them – whether it’s from outside our area or through one of the largest talent pipelines in the country – The University of Texas at Austin.

Employment in High Tech Industries, 2007

Respected worldwide, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) heads the list of area universities and colleges with a combined enrollment of more than 122,000 students. Within 100 miles of Austin, 39 colleges and universities enroll over 330,000 students, and at 200 miles the student population approaches 900,000, adding to one of the world’s strongest talent pools.

In addition, highly rated elementary and secondary schools contribute to both quality of life and the beginnings of exceptional labor pools to come. Austin area households enjoy diverse options in education, including 29 public school districts, 16 charter schools and 69 private schools

As a world-class research institution, UT Austin has annual research expenditures of more than $497 million. The University consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally for the number of science and engineering doctoral degrees and is the fourth most patent-earning university in the country. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department has ranked as one of the top 10 in the country. UT Austin is home to more than 100 organized research units.

The Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) at UT is one of the largest and most respected wireless research centers in the country. Home to 10 complimentary research and development labs and the WNCG works with some of the largest wireless, software and semiconductor industry partners in the U.S.

In 2007, more than 2,100 patents were assigned to inventors in Austin. In 2006, the Wall Street Journal named Austin the third Most Inventive City in the country due to patent activity. In fact, the IBM Austin facility consistently ranks first of all IBM locations worldwide in number of patents generated.

As one of the top targets for venture capital investment in the country, Austin is home to an active and sophisticated venture capital and angel investor community which includes the Central Texas Angel Network. These groups have extensive experience with high-tech startups and early stage companies.

Austin is strategically located between the east and west coasts and centrally located relative to the major Texas metros of San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is a modern international airport served by 12 major airlines with 300 daily arrivals and departures including direct flights to more than 80 domestic destinations and 3 foreign cities.

Non-stop Jet Destinations 2008

A dynamic business destination. A dynamic business asset.
From a low cost of doing business to affordable home prices, to a lower overall cost of living compared with most of the country, the Austin region makes financial sense.

Our tax structure is fair, user friendly, competitive and designed to make companies feel welcome.

Compared to other major tech centers, Austin is well known for affordable living. Coldwell Banker’s home price comparison index shows Austin’s middle management housing is 40% below the national average for 2008 ($241,325 vs. $403,738).

The highest quality of life. As so many “best of” lists will attest.
The Best Place for Business and Careers. The Best City for Singles. The Best City for Relocating Families. The Live Music Capital of the World. We have it all – highly rated p ublic school districts and entertainment venues tailor made for the outdoor type or the art lover. Home to rock climbers, Tour de France Champions, rock and rollers, movie stars, theater lovers and the top of the creative class. No matter where you come from, we’re sure once you’ve experienced Austin, you’ll want to call it home.