Wireless tech company Qualcomm to buy chipmaker Atheros

New York Times : Qualcomm, the San Diegobased maker of wireless telecommunications equipment, is set to buy Atheros, the San Josebased chipmaker, for $3.1 billion. Atheros’s expertise lies in developing computer chips for wireless networking and mobile phones. Qualcomm’s acquisition of Atheros will strengthen Qualcomm’s ability to compete in the growing market for smartphones and tablet computers whose low-power operating mode puts a premium on lean, efficient circuitry.