Antitrust body to probe Qualcomm

SEOUL- South Korea's antitrust watchdog agency has formed an exclusive team to investigate U.S. wireless technology company Qualcomm Inc., state television reported on Monday.

"The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has obtained information that may show Qualcomm abused its market-dominating position in its business with local companies," KBS television reported.

It is the second such team formed to investigate allegations involving a global company after a similar group probed Microsoft Corp., KBS television quoted FTC officials as saying.

Officials could not immediately be reached for comment. However, last April Qualcomm Korea said FTC officials had visited its offices and that it was cooperating with their investigations.

The U.S. company dominates the market for technology and chips for code division multiple access (CDMA), the world's second-most common mobile phone technology after global system for mobile communications (GSM).

South Korea is home to leading mobile phone makers including Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and LG Electronics Inc.

South Korea has fined Microsoft Corp. for antitrust violations.