Qualcomm in the clear over EU anti-competitive charge

Technology firms first complained about Qualcomm in 2005

The European Commission has dropped its probe into claims that US chip maker Qualcomm abused its dominant position in the mobile phone technology market.

It said the companies that had lodged the complaints, including Ericsson, NEC, Nokia and Panasonic, were withdrawing their allegations.

They had complained that Qualcomm had licensed technology on unfair terms.

The commission said it was no longer "appropriate" to invest further resources in the case.

The original complaints were made to the commission in 2005.