Mobile buy

US communications giant Motorola has bought Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s European telecommunications design team and a research centre in western France. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The facility at Rennes, formerly belonging to the Mitsubishi subsidiary Melco Mobile Communication Europe, will now become a development centre for Motorola.

As part of Motorola, the Rennes team will initially address the 2.5G European i-mode market. Motorola also expects the Rennes team to assist in the design and development of upcoming Motorola platforms in the 3G European i-mode markets.

The deal does not include the Japanese mobile phone business of Mitsubishi or its manufacturing or supply relationships, sales and administrative capabilities.