DEAL TURNS QUALCOMM, NOKIA FROM ARCH ENEMIES TO ALLIES OVERNIGHT

摘要

Nokia and Qualcomm's patent settlement will trigger technology collaboration between them, company executives and analysts said. The companies announced a licensing deal covering various 3G and 4G patents. Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs suggested that the deal will enable a long-term relationship with Nokia, in comments during the company's third quarter earnings call Thursday. Qualcomm raised its full-year earnings guidance because of the settlement. The agreement -- which ends all litigation in the U.S., Europe and Asia -- not only grants Nokia licenses under Qualcomm's patents, but also enables Qualcomm to integrate some of Nokia's patents, which are "essential to WCDMA, GSM and OFDMA," into Qualcomm's chipsets, the companies said in a joint statement. nnThe deal will pave the way for joint opportunities for the companies in 3G and 4G, Jacobs said. The goal is to get executives together soon to discuss opportunities for collaboration, he said. Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said the agreement will enable technological innovation, and analysts agreed. The companies have been suing each other over patent issues for years, said analyst Jack Gold of J. Gold Associates, noting that one of the reasons that Nokia got out of the CDMA business is that the gear-maker didn't want to pay the Qualcomm royalties, he said. Now the companies can move on and put their resources into improving technology, he said.