Network equipment vendor Nokia Siemens Networks (NOK, SI) said Friday it has completed the divestment of its microwave transport business, including associated operational support systems and related support functions, to DragonWave, Inc. (>> DragonWave, Inc.).
MAIN FACTS:
-The deal was completed under the terms of the amended agreement announced on May 3, 2012.
-According to Nokia Siemens Networks' announcement on May 3, the purchase price includes approximately EUR11.7 million in cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and common shares of DragonWave with a value of EUR5 million euros. The shares are subject to a lock-up restricting sale or disposition.
-DragonWave also acquires other assets under a capital asset lease or other deferred sale arrangements with a value of approximately EUR3.6 million.
-In line with the agreement, DragonWave is the preferred, strategic supplier to Nokia Siemens Networks of packet microwave and related products, and the companies will jointly coordinate technology development activities.
-The acquisition of the business in China is expected to be completed in the second half of 2012, once all of the licenses and permissions to do so are in place.
-Employees of Nokia Siemens Networks based in Shanghai would transfer to DragonWave at that time.
-By Niclas Rolander, Dow Jones Newswires; +46-8-5451-3102; niclas.rolander@dowjones.com Twitter: @DowJonesNordics
Nokia acknowledges nano-SIM decision, now says it's 'prepared' to license essential patents - The Verge
Nokia had been waging the loudest opposition in recent months to Apple's nano-SIM proposal, a mild evolution of the micro-SIM currently found in the iPhone 4 and 4S (among others). Nokia, jointly with Motorola and RIM, had been proposing a more radical thinking of the SIM card that would be smaller, allow for easy removal with a fingernail, and allegedly met an ETSI guideline that the nano-SIM not be able to get irrecoverably jammed in a micro-SIM slot. Rhetoric became so heated, in fact, that Nokia warned that it wouldn't license essential patents if ETSI selected Apple's design.
That language has changed today, though: Nokia now says that it will license any essential patents to the standardized 4FF under FRAND terms, meaning any OEM will be able to use or make nano-SIM cards without fear that Nokia will deny licensing and threaten an injunction. That's not to say Nokia's happy — it still calls Apple's card "technically inferior and not suitable for a number of applications."
Here's Nokia's full statement:
Nokia continues to believe that the selected nano-SIM proposal is technically inferior and not suitable for a number of applications, but the ETSI Smart Card Platform Technical Committee has now made its decision. Nokia believes that the existing micro-SIM (3FF) will continue to be a preferred option for many manufacturers and devices and so ultimately the market will decide whether 4FF is widely adopted.
As Nokia believes that ETSI has taken steps to address Nokia's original concerns over the standardization process, we have advised ETSI that we are prepared to license any Nokia patents which are essential to implement the standard, on FRAND terms.
Separately, a Nokia spokesman tells us that he "believes" the selected design was Apple's — not the Motorola-RIM compromise proposed several weeks ago that included an additional notch for so-called "push-push" designs. If true, this means that it'll be more difficult to design nano-SIM phones that use slots to hold the card rather than a tray, but we're still looking for confirmation. More on this as it develops.
Nokia 710 price slashed to £99.95 at Carphone Warehouse - Know Your Mobile
The Nokia Lumia 710's price has been slashed to under £100 at the Carphone Warehouse, meaning Microsoft now has a viable ultra-affordable Windows Phone on its hands.
The Lumia 710 was the second Windows Phone handset Nokia launched, following closely behind the Nokia Lumia 800, and was designed to be Nokia’s ‘budget’ Windows Phone. But at £250 it was still a little too pricey to be considered truly affordable.
To make a big splash with Windows Phone, Microsoft and Nokia needed a sub-£100 handset to compete with the hoards of ultra-affordable Android handsets that are now readily available practically everywhere.
Nokia and Microsoft, thanks to Carphone Warehouse, now have that price-point covered, which could mean big things for Windows Phone in the UK.
The Lumia 710 is a far superior handset to many of its similarly priced Android-powered counterparts, featuring an excellent 3.7-inch Clear Black display, a 1.4GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera and well designed, albeit slightly plasticky, chassis.
This ‘Pre-pay Pay Day’ deal will be available for the next seven days (1st – 7th June) on Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone prepay, says Carphone Warehouse.
Lets hope this is a sign of things to come and not just a quick way to get rid of inventory.
Microsoft and Nokia slam Google for patent collusion claims - The Inquirer
WINDOWS PHONE PARTNERS Microsoft and Nokia have slammed Google for its claims that the two firms colluded to try to artificially raise the prices of smartphones, calling it a "desperate tactic" and a "frivolous" charge.
Google said it had filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) claiming the two firms were creating "patent trolls" through the use of third-party firms to covertly enforce patent prices and so force other firms to raise the prices of their devices.
However, in response Microsoft raised the fact that Google itself is under scrutiny for its own tactics in the smartphone market.
"Google is complaining about patents when it won't respond to growing concerns by regulators, elected officials and judges about its abuse of standard-essential patents, and it is complaining about anti-trust in the smartphone industry when it controls more than 95 per cent of mobile search and advertising," they said. "This seems like a desperate tactic on their part."
Nokia also slammed Google, saying that although it had not seen the details of the complaint, it believed it was "frivolous" and a waste of the EC's time. Nokia also made a wry dig at Android over its own IP issues.
"Google's suggestion that Nokia and Microsoft are colluding on [intellectual property rights] is wrong. Both companies have their own IPR portfolios and strategies and operate independently," it said.
"We agree with Google that Android devices have significant IP infringement issues, and would welcome constructive efforts to stop unauthorised use of Nokia intellectual property."
Nokia is in the process of taking legal action against Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) as well as HTC and Viewsonic, smartphone makers that use Android, over numerous patent issues, while Microsoft is also embroiled in legal actions with firms using the operating system.
Microsoft and Nokia are currently in a partnership to promote the Windows Phone operating system, with the Finnish phone firm being the only handset maker that's betting its strategy on the success of Microsoft's mobile operating system. ยต
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