Wireless network developers using 3GPP LTE technology need a fair patent exchange, a group of industry leaders said today.
The companies, including Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, NEC, NextWave Wireless, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks and Sony Ericsson, said they agree to keep LTE patent royalties at less than 10% of the product’s price and less than $10 for LTE embedded in laptops.
“The companies invite all interested parties to join this initiative which is intended to stimulate early adoption of mobile broadband technology across the communications and consumer electronic industries,” they said in a joint statement.
LTE, short for Long-Term Evolution, is not expected to reach consumers until the 2010-2011 timeframe but is supported by many major carriers. A notable exception is Sprint Nextel which is testing WiMAX technology.