Global vendor strategies - 10/9/05

Microsoft announced additional partner support for its IPTV software platform. Motorola, Thomson and Cisco/Linksys/KiSS have joined the pack.

Motorola and Apple have finally unveiled their iPhone, a Motorola handset with iTunes software, the Motorola Rokr. Cingular announced it will be the exclusive U.S. vendor of Motorola's Rokr E1 device.

Access (Japan) bought PalmSource, maker of the Palm OS for handheld computers and cell phones, for $324m in cash.

eBay is rumored to be in acquisition talks with Skype. eBay should be ready to pay between $2bn and $3bn.

JDS Uniphase is to buy Agility Communications, a leading provider of widely tunable laser solutions for the optical network.

EU cleared BenQ to buy the mobile phone unit of Siemens Comm.