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Google and Samsung ask China to limit Microsoft Nokia deal: Report

Google and Samsung ask China to limit Microsoft-Nokia deal: Report

By Reuters | Updated: 6 June 2014 20:11 IST

Google and Samsung Electronics have asked Chinese regulators to ensure that Microsoft's bid to acquire Nokia Oyj's phone business did not lead to higher licensing fees on patents that remain with the Finnish company, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

The companies joined Chinese mobile phone makers Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp in voicing concerns about Microsoft gaining more power in the smartphone market, the report said, citing two government officials familiar with the matter.

The companies have asked the regulators to set conditions on the deal, the officials said.

China's Ministry of Commerce is conducting an anti-monopoly review and is likely to approve the deal, the officials told Bloomberg. European Union antitrust regulators approved the acquisition without conditions in December.

Samsung and Google did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Nokia declined to comment.

Notably, the Indian Supreme Court on Monday heard Nokia's appeal challenging a lower court ruling over transfer of its mobile handset plant in the country to Microsoft amid a tax dispute.

Nokia last month appealed to the Indian Supreme Court saying the Delhi High Court had imposed "new conditions" over transfer of the plant, after previously allowing it.

The Supreme Court's website showed Nokia's appeal was listed to be heard on Monday. The court does not usually give a verdict on the first day of hearing.

Microsoft is buying Nokia's mobile phone business in a 5.4 billion euro deal.

Nokia last week, after the launch of its Nokia X family of Android-based smartphones at MWC 2014, said that more such Android-based devices would be made by the company, despite the Microsoft deal.

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