Toshiba would be prepared to merge its mobile handset operations with Siemens AG, the Japanese electronics company said Thursday.
"From Toshiba's point of view, joining our mobile division with Siemens would be possible," said Toshiba's president, Tadashi Okamura.
Despite Okamura's assertion, there are no firm talks concerning a possible merger, although the two companies cooperate in developing new-generation mobile handsets.
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Carry on: Sun Microsystems can survive a few years of economic turmoil if necessary, CEO Scott McNealy said.
"We've got $6 billion in cash, no debt. Short of a multibillion dollar embezzlement, I think we are in pretty good shape to ride out, you know, a two- or three-year economic storm," McNealy said. "We're dealing with a recession that was there before Sept. 11."
Sun (SUNW) has lost money in the past two quarters after more than a decade of profits and spectacular growth, due to the rise of the Internet and dot-coms.
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Turbulent skies: United Airlines said it lost $1.16 billion in the third quarter, making it the worst quarter in the company's 75-year history.
The loss includes $865 million in special charges and a $391 million cash infusion from the federal government after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which involved two United (UAL) planes and caused a steep dropoff in U.S. air travel.
Excluding the unusual charges, the company posted a loss of $542 million, or $10.05 per share for the three months ended Sept. 30, which is its most dismal quarter ever.
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ARC support: ARC International said Sun Microsystems would use its products in a new range of computers, news that cheered ARC's shares, which have been battered by two sales warnings in as many months.
ARC has been hit by the global economic slowdown as its customers delayed contracts, but it said Sun had signed a licensing deal for ARC technology in its latest range of computer servers.
The company also reported a widely expected increase in losses during the third quarter. It posted a net loss before exceptional costs for the three months to September 30 of $9.6 million.
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Corporate digestion: Singapore Telecommunications plans to slow its buying spree of telecom firms after bagging a 22.3 percent stake in Telkomsel for $602 million.
Singapore Telecommunications (SGTJY) officials said the company would take a breather after buying Telkomsel in order to digest its acquisitions.
AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
