The reports surfaced two days before Siemens' presents its helf-year financial results. Several publications here reported over the weekend that Siemens and Motorola are close to an agreement for Motorola to take a stake in the No. 2 wireless handset maker.

Neither Siemens nor Motorola would comment on the reports. "We do not take a stand on rumors," a Motorola spokesman said. "If there is something to announce we will take it to the public immediately" he said.

A Siemens spokesman here also declined to comment, but hinted that it would have more to say Wednesday (April 27) when it announces its financial results.

The newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported in its Saturday edition (April 23) that Taiwanese electronics giant Acer Inc. is also interested in investing in Siemens' mobile phone branch. Acer denied the report.

Siemens has suffered several setbacks in its mobile phone operations in recent years. Despite one of the most efficient production lines, Siemens has steadily lost market share. In its most recent quarter, Siemens' mobile phone branch reported a loss of around 100 million euros ($130 million).

Other reports here had Siemens investing in or cooperating with Canadian telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Corp. on fixed, wired projects. The German magazine Der Spiegel reported that senior managers of both companies have met secretly at Munich's airport.