Uber’s plan to develop self-driving cars may include Nokia’s Here mapping unit. The New York Times is reporting that Uber will bid up to $3 billion for the unit in an effort to outbid a consortium of automakers that includes BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. (That group is reportedly teaming up with China’s Baidu to bid for Here.)
Here is one of three Nokia business units that remained after the Finnish company sold its device business to Microsoft last year. The others are its wireless network equipment business and its patent licensing unit. Last month, Nokia announced plans to sell its Here maps business to raise cash as it prepares to acquire rival Alcatel-Lucent.
Nokia’s mapping algorithms are widely viewed as the world’s strongest competitor to the ubiquitous Google Maps. The companies that are looking at the Nokia unit are clearly interested in owning mapping technology instead of relying on Google.
Ericsson extends Apple lawsuit
Add Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands to the list of countries in which Ericsson is suing Apple. The telecom equipment giant filed the initial suit in Texas, after Apple fired the first round in the escalating legal battle between the two companies.
Until a few months ago, Apple was paying Ericsson licensing fees for patents related to wireless connectivity. As those licensing agreements expired, the two companies were unable to agree on new terms, and Apple eventually took Ericsson to court. The smartphone-maker is asking the court for permission to calculate licensing fees based on the price of the chips that use Ericsson’s technology, not on the price of the smartphones.
