Nokia and Apple plan greater collaboration after settling patent disputes

Apple will make "an up-front cash payment" to Nokia and also make further royalties payments for use of Nokia's patents throughout the period of the "multi-year patent licence" agreement, according to a joint statement issued by the companies.

Nokia last year sued Apple for alleged patent infringement before courts in the UK, Germany, the US, France, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan and before the International Trade Commission. Those cases have all been dropped as part of the new agreement, according to the two companies.

Under their new "business collaboration agreement", Nokia will provider "network infrastructure products and services to Apple". Apple will also make Nokia's digital health products available through its retail and online stores, and the two companies will are also "exploring future collaboration in digital health initiatives".

"Regular summits between top Nokia and Apple executives will ensure that the relationship works effectively and to the benefit of both parties and their customers," the companies' statement said.

Maria Varsellona, chief legal officer at Nokia, described the new deal with Apple as "meaningful".

"It moves our relationship with Apple from being adversaries in court to business partners working for the benefit of our customers," said Varsellona, who is responsible for Nokia's patent licensing business.

Apple's chief operating officer, Jeff Williams, said: "We are pleased with this resolution of our dispute and we look forward to expanding our business relationship with Nokia."