Siemens will close its mobile handset division unless it can find a last minute buyer, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Siemens is the fourth largest handset maker by market share it has struggled to make a profit. In the fourth quarter of 2004 the mobile division lost €140m.

The paper reports a final decision will be announced at the Siemens annual general meeting on 27 January.

A spokesman for Siemens declined to comment on the report but confirmed to the Scotsman newspaper that the division's future was under review by chief executive Heinrich von Pierer and that an announcement will be made at the annual meeting.

Von Pierer told Bloomberg: "Either the situation has to be fixed or we have to find a partner for cooperation. We have to fix, close or sell.".

NEC denied it is interested in buying the division. Chinese manufacturer Ningbo Bird also denied interest. ®

Related stories

Printing for camera phones
Super 3G group flexes its muscles
China rejects Siemens phone business
Siemens to sell mobile phone biz to China - report