News Briefs

The mobile phone industry has hit back at claims that using hands-free kits with mobile phones can increase exposure to radiation. Consumer watchdog magazine, Which?, claimed that mobile phone users who use hands-free kits could be three times more at risk from radiation. The Federation of the Electronics Industry said any conclusions on the effects of radio frequency emissions of mobiles could only be made on the basis of the Sar (specific absorption rate) levels.

UK microchip designer, ARM Holdings, boosted its share price when it reported "stronger than expected" first quarter figures last week. Pre-tax profits rose to £8.2m, 157 per cent higher than the same period last year. The fab-less semiconductor manufacturer, which designs high-performance chips used in mobile phones, said growth would continue with the addition of five new licensees and additional agreements with existing partners.

Motorola has signed a three-year contract extension with internet software developer RTS wireless to deliver unified messaging services to its customers through the RTS Internet portal. The gateway allows subscribers to consolidate their voice, e-mail, voicemail and SMS through a voice mailbox using text-to-speech conversion technology.

Nortel Networks' global manufacturing operations are to be sold to contract electronics manufacturer Solectron with whom it has entered into a four-year contract. Solectron will pay $900m (£540m) for Nortel's sites, which include operations in Ireland, Wales and France, in addition to sites in Canada, US, Mexico and Turkey. Nortel announced 15 months ago that it would divest its manufacturing operations and outsource the manufacture of network and communications equipment.

Deutsche Telekom announced that it would bring together its mobile multimedia activities into a new UK-based entity called T-Motion Plc. The new company will combine the assets of T-Mobile International and T-Online International.

The new company said that its services would be directed at developing new content-driven services for mobile phones.