Siemens eyes sale of telecom unit to Motorola

Germany's Siemens is discussing the possible sale of its main communications unit to Motorola, a German newspaper, quoted by Associated Press, said.

The report, quoting the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, said Motorola had expressed interest in the mobile unit of Com, but Siemens wanted to include other struggling units in the deal.

The newspaper, which did not identify the source of its information, said both companies had declined to comment.

The report said Siemens' Com unit, which included its profitable mobile network business, posted sales of 13.1 billion euros in the Munich-based company's last fiscal year, which ended in September. Earnings, however, was eroded by the cost of laying off staff at ailing parts of the unit.