Texas Instruments, NEC, Matsushita considering collaboration over mobile technologies

Texas Instruments, NEC, Matsushita considering collaboration over mobile technologies

Matsushita Electric Industrial and NEC have said that they are talking with Texas Instruments to possibly collaborate over mobile technologies. This might result into the latest such cooperative project for embattled handset makers in Japan in the field of 3G technologies.

They added that 2 other companies, NEC Electronics Corp. (6723.T) and Panasonic Mobile Communications are also involved in these talks. However, not many details were provided as they said that nothing concrete has taken place yet.

Market sources claims that these companies aim to set up a joint venture to develop microchips and software used in third-generation (3G) mobile phones based on W-CDMA technology. The aim is to cut the input costs for all of these involved companies.

Incoming reports say that such a possible alliance will likely be capitalized at about 10 billion yen ($85 million). This would include some major investments by NEC and Panasonic Mobile.