HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - Nokia Corp. said Wednesday it will transfer chipset technology and workers to STMicroelectronics NV in a move to increase cooperation between the two companies on high-speed, third-generation, or 3G, mobile technology.
The world's largest mobile phone maker said the decision was in line with a new strategy which also means further collaboration with three other chipset suppliers; Texas Instruments Inc., Broadcom Corp. and Infineon Technologies AG.
The transfer of some 200 personnel to STMicro—in Finland and Britain—will take place during the last quarter of the year, Nokia said.
''Nokia will continue to develop its leading-edge modem technology ... (which) will then be licensed to chipset manufacturers who will develop and produce chipsets for Nokia,'' the Finnish company said. ''These manufacturers will also be able to produce and sell to the open market chipsets based on Nokia's modem technology.''
Separately on Wednesday, Nokia said it would defend itself against two complaints by subsidiaries of InterDigital Inc. with the U.S. International Trade Commission which allege that it engaged in unfair trade practices by infringing on two of its patents.
The complaints seek an exclusion order which would bar entry in the U.S. to Nokia phones that allegedly infringe upon the patents in question.
''As we are yet to obtain copies of both complaints, it's too early to comment on the specifics of the allegations,'' Nokia spokeswoman Anne Eckert said. ''Nokia intends to vigorously defend itself, its products and its integrity and to ensure that its rights are fully protected.''
Nokia, based in Espoo near the Finnish capital, sells products in 130 countries and employs 110,000 people. In the second quarter, it sold 100 million mobile devices, claiming a 38 percent share of the global market.
STMicroelectronics, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a leading global developer of semiconductor and microelectronics technology that makes chips for Apple Inc. and Nintendo Co.'s video games. It employs 50,000 workers worldwide.
