Fujitsu and Toshiba said that they have entered into an agreement to merge their mobile phone businesses, in a move to enhance their handset development capabilities and improve business efficiency.
Under the agreement, Toshiba will transfer its mobile phone business to a new company to be established October 1, 2010, and Fujitsu will acquire a majority of the shares in the company. The new company will develop handsets for markets in and outside Japan.
Fujitsu’s proprietary technologies include mobile phone software platforms, water- and dust-resistant design, fingerprint security and sensor technologies. Toshiba manufactures a range of mobile phone handsets that includes smartphone-related technologies and imaging technologies developed in its LCD television business.
The companies claim that the collaboration in the mobile phone business will allow them to strengthen their handset development platforms for the Japanese market. Both companies plan to sign a final contract at the end of July 2010.
