According to the Wall Street Journal, the American group MOTOROLA INC and German SIEMENS are in talks over an alliance aimed at merging either their wireless-infrastructure operations or their handset businesses, or potentially both, with the intention of climbing to number two or three in the world, behind NOKIA and ERICSSON. Two joint-ventures are said to be under study, valued, in total, at between $20 and 25 bn. A total merger is not said to be on the cards.