Euronews: NSN to Keep 2,000 Jobs in Munich

Nokia Networks , Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) start the week in today's trot through the EMEA telecom headlines.

Nokia Siemens Networks has agreed a deal with German labor union IG Metall on the future of its workforce in Munich, which should ensure that around 2,000 NSN jobs will remain in the city. It's not a total reprieve, though, as under the terms of the proposal, the St.-Martin-Strasse site in Munich will still close, with the loss of 1,600 jobs. The deal is conditional, however, on the majority of those who are losing their jobs joining an interim employment company that would try to provide them with support and training for jobs outside NSN. (See NSN Could Stay in Munich, Euronews: Siemens CFO Slams NSN's Job Cuts and NSN to Cut 2,900 Jobs in Germany.)

Nokia and Microsoft are to invest up to €9 million (US$11.8 million) each into a new app development program at Aalto University in Finland. The AppCampus program has been set up primarily to foster the creation of mobile apps for the Windows Phone operating system, though Nokia's Symbian and Series platforms 40 will also still be catered for. (See Microsoft, Nokia Invest €18M in Apps, Nokia Ships First Windows Phone to Europe and Nokia Boss Declares War on Android.)

Orange France may suspend its roaming agreement with Iliad (Euronext: ILD)'s Free Mobile, according to report on 4-Traders that cites French daily Le Figaro. Orange is pointing to what it sees as repeated failings in Free's network, although Free's coverage was recently given the all-clear by regulator Arcep . (See Euronews: Iliad Gets the All-Clear on Free Mobile, Euronews: Iliad's Clogging Our Network, Says FT and Iliad Disrupts the French Mobile Scene .)

And on the subject of Free Mobile, Reuters reports that Frank Esser, the CEO of rival French operator SFR , is about to step down, so dramatic has the effect of Free Mobile's arrival on the scene been on SFR's fortunes. This report also cites Le Figaro. (See SFR Sets Femtos Free in France.)

Bankers working for Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) and Tata Communications Ltd. are thought to be on their way to the U.K.'s Takeover Panel to seek an extension to the deadline for firm bids for Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc (London: CW), reports the Daily Telegraph. The operators apparently feel that C&WW's management is being less forthcoming than it could be with information relevant to the bids. (See Euronews: Tata Considers C&WW Bid and Euronews: Vodafone Eyes M&A Opportunity.)

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading