Sources say the European Commission is preparing to send a statement of objections to makers of microchips for smart cards outlining complaints and concerns that date back four years. Three sources have revealed that the makers of the microchips, which are used in SIM cards, identification cards and bank cards, may be fixing their prices and colluding to exchange market-sensitive information with each other. In 2008, several of those chip companies said the Commission raided their offices as part of an investigation. Europe’s third-largest chipmaker, NXP Semiconductors NC, announced earlier this month that it is involved in the investigation and may be fined by the Commission.
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