Nokia broadens legal battle vs Apple, includes iPad

Nokia, the world's top handset maker, broadened its patent battle against Apple on Friday to include the iPad, deepening the legal battle between the two smartphone rivals.

Nokia said it had filed a complaint in the Federal District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin, alleging that Apple's iPhone and iPad 3G products infringe five important Nokia patents.

The patents have not been covered in Nokia's previous actions against Apple. The two are in the midst of a major legal battle, which started last October when Nokia charged Apple for using its patented technologies without paying for them.

"The patents in question relate to technologies for enhanced speech and data transmission, using positioning data in applications and innovations in antenna configurations that improve performance and save space," Nokia said.

"These patented innovations are important to Nokia's success as they allow improved product performance and design," it said.

Nokia, Microsoft launch new mobile software

Nokia and Microsoft unveiled on Wednesday the first result of their new software collaboration aimed at breaking the dominance of Research in Motion's BlackBerry in wireless services for corporations.

Nokia and Microsoft, at one time fierce rivals in the mobile telecommunications business, announced the alliance in August 2009. They expect to offer Nokia phones running Microsoft's Office programmes later this year.

On Wednesday the companies unveiled Communicator Mobile software, which enables people to see their colleagues' availability, and click to communicate with them using instant messanger, e-mail, text or phone call.

The names and status of colleagues are embedded directly in the devices' contacts application. Owners of Nokia E52 and E72 models can download it as of today from Nokia's Ovi Store.