Nokia's NAVTEQ acquisition draws probe from the EU

It may have won approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and NAVTEQ shareholders alike, but it looks like the EU's European Commission needs a bit more time to think over Nokia's acquisition of the company, and it's now launched an "in-depth" probe into the matter. According to Reuters, the Commission said that the "proposed merger raises serious doubts with regards to ... competition concerns," although it was quick to add that the decision to open the inquiry does not prejudge the result of the probe. Among other things, the probe will apparently attempt to asses whether the purchase would affect the cost of maps for other companies providing navigation services on cellphones. If all of this has a familiar ring, it should, because it wasn't all that long ago that the EU launched a similar probe into TomTom's similar acquisition of map-maker Tele Atlas.

[Brent @ Mar 28th 2008 4:48PM]

The things that get by spell check... Assess is completely different than asses.

[Nathan @ Mar 28th 2008 5:25PM]

Oh my, asses and probes all in one article, I think maybe Engadget is getting a little blue for work-time viewing.

[GaryZ @ Mar 28th 2008 6:15PM]

And there are two "whether"'s...

[Tyler @ Mar 28th 2008 6:57PM]

I know, thats my only gripe about Engadget, terrrrrrrrrrrible grammar which unfortunately in my opinion just lowers the overall quality of the sites articles (don't want to start a flame war, but just finally saw others notice it too).

[David Lynch @ Mar 28th 2008 4:53PM]

probe.

[andy @ Mar 28th 2008 5:05PM]

Those EU "taxes" can get pretty high once they start "probing" (see also Microsoft).

[Andrew @ Mar 28th 2008 5:26PM]

Oh, give it a rest. Just because everything is corrupt in the US don't start projecting it on the EU. The Commission is looking at a serious risk to real competition in the market and that's their mandate.

The EU did not "tax" Microsoft. Failing to comply with a ruling of the Court should be punished. And the Commission goes after European companies harder than it does the odd American company (Microsoft). Read some news and learn something new will you?

[Christian @ Mar 28th 2008 9:23PM]

Hey Andrew, I read some of this "news" today (sorry, most of us American aren't adept in handling information well.) and in fact did learn something new! Everything really is corrupt in America! Oh a fool I must be for not believing before! Never mind that common sense and a little rational thought would indicate that most businesses in first world countries operate quite lawfully. But as we all now know, a little snide talk and flame spewing is all the news we need apparently.

[fesstech @ Mar 28th 2008 11:32PM]

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