Communications Briefs

Stockholm, Sweden — Ericsson and Sony agreed to pump $325 million into their wireless-handset joint venture, which they established in October 2001, to strengthen the venture's "capital structure and support business expansion." The venture, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, said its worldwide unit sales for the quarter ending December rose 4 percent to 7.1 million and that sales were up 42 percent compared to the third quarter. Fourth-quarter dollar sales were up 18 percent to $1.34 billion, but the venture still posted a net loss of $74.7 million for the quarter, bringing the cumulative 15-month loss to $445 million.

Bedminster, N.J.— Verizon Wireless teamed up with Logitech to offer a service that lets subscribers view public and private Web cams on the screens of select phones. The still images refresh every five to 10 seconds. Users subscribe to the Logitech Mobile Video service by downloading an application over-the-air to a BREW-equipped handset. The source of the images must be from Logitech Web cameras. PC users who want to send images to wireless handsets must download a Logitech application. The service costs $4.99/month, plus airtime, for unlimited use.

Munich— Siemens launched a series of Xelibri fashion phones in wearable and unusual designs intended for sale through department stores and fashion retailers, but the company is mum on when or if they'll come to the United States. The company named eight foreign countries that will get the phones beginning in April. Additional countries will get the phones in September, but Siemens didn't specify which ones. Siemens expects the fashion phones to entice consumers in mature markets into using multiple phones. Limited quantities will be produced, and there will be spring/summer and fall/winter collections.