In my career, I have never seen such chaotic and unpredicted layoff. One of my colleagues was so awesome engineer with big chunk of his life spent at Qualcomm got laid off today. I felt deeply sorry for that guy. I know there would be bunch of similar people in this event who are geniuses but just due to pay-scale or bad business condition, got fired. Sorry for them.
The number that I saw was 600 on CNET news, but I believe it would be easily 1400+ including Contractors and full timers. Its crazy when same manager who asked you to work on weekends/overnights in the past, and the same manager one day calls you and informs that you are being laid off. I bet that Modem/Apps mid level fat management won't be cut till Qualcomm totally cash out because they know how to sit in the office, do nothing, suck all money, do little shouting here and there, blame someone, and promote to next level.
If any Qualcomm manager is reading this post then forward the message that don't eat out great people instead shuffle them in some other BU or group. Com'on you are 100-Billion company, and top 50 places to work-for in forbes. Your management can't be so lame that they have to do layoffs every year (nov 2013, dec 2014). Is it Poor prediction or bad management to blame for huhhh????
Good luck to all my neighbors whose cubes will be emptied, wouldn't be there to share coffee with me ( sob sob... :( ) Don't come to this place unless you have to.