Nokia, IBM to announce wireless software agreement

NEW YORK: Nokia Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. are expected
to announce an agreement Tuesday to develop software to distribute music and
other media to cellphones in an effort to extend the market for wireless
services, the New York Times reported.

The two companies are also expected to announce a licensing agreement whereby
Nokia's wireless software will be integrated with IBM's digital media software,
the paper said.

The announcements, according to the report, represent an attempt by Nokia and
IBM to broaden the market for wireless services beyond telephone service and
simple text messages, and offset a threat from Microsoft Corp. in the mobile
hand-held device software market.

(C) Reuters Limited.