Nokia and Qualcomm expect no disruptions to consumers as the wireless industry heavyweights try to settle differences over licensing fees, an Associated Press report said.
High-stakes negotiations continued as a 2001 agreement expired Tuesday, the Associated Press report also said.
'Business is continuing as usual, and we are continuing the negotiations,' Nokia spokeswoman Anne Eckert was quoted as saying, providing no details or timetable for the talks.
Bill Davidson, Qualcomm's VP of global marketing and investor relations, said the company believes 'the parties remain far apart and are not any closer to reaching agreement,' the report said.
Qualcomm, which designs and manufactures digital processors that are central to mobile phones and cellular networks, licenses its technology patents and wants to renew terms of its 2001 pact, while Nokia, the world's largest handset maker, wants to reduce payments to Qualcomm, the Associated Press report said.
The dispute, which could spark a new wave of lawsuits between the wireless industry heavyweights, centers on royalties for W-CDMA, which is growing quickly in Europe and elsewhere, the report said
Nokia said it has paid all licensees, including Qualcomm, less than 3% on W-CDMA products. Qualcomm said the rate is higher but has declined to be more specific. Qualcomm has said its standard rate is about 5% of a handset's wholesale price.