Samsung buys the mobile connectivity and location technology division of British chipmaker CSR for $310 million, in a bid to strengthen both smartphone and patent portfolio.
"By leveraging CSR's R&D capability, Samsung will strengthen its application processor platform and solidify its position as a leading semiconductor solutions provider," Samsung says.
CSR tells Reuters it was "losing ground" in smartphones to bigger rivals (such as Qualcomm) despite a selection of "cutting edge" Bluetooth, wifi and location technologies. Thus CSR prefers to concentrate on making TV and audio equipment processors for the likes of Sennheiser and Beats by Dre.
On the other hand Samsung wants to strengthen its smartphone business while owning more ever-important patents. With the CSR purchase Samsung gets WW royalty-free license of all handset CSR IP and 21 US patents.