A review into Siemens's compliance with an investigation into corruption has postponed the company's equipment merger with Nokia. A merger of network infrastructure at the two companies may now be put back several months as investigators determine the validity of bribery charges levied at Siemens, and the effects of the arrest of the former head of Siemens's equipment group come to light. As recently as November, the two companies had stated that they expected to become Nokia Siemens Networks -- which was estimated would produce $20 billion a year in revenue -- by January 2007. The companies now expect the merger to be complete by sometime in the first financial quarter of next year, although that depends on how well, or badly, the investigation progresses. As long as the two companies keep on cranking out the phones, then we'll remain obliviously happy, but if the investigation turns up s'more dirt, we'll be sure to shovel it through the nearest web browser window.

Another day, another company slamming the doors shut, and another governmental group prying them back open to sniff things out. Shortly after BenQ pulled the plug on its German mobile division (and somehow got its P51 to China), chief senior public prosecutor Christian Schmidt-Sommerfeld has initiated an investigation to find out just what went down behind the scenes of the now-closed company. It's possible that "a number of bankruptcy-related offenses were committed," such as delaying their filing for bankruptcy and overstating how many units were sold in the most recent quarter by a couple million. Rumors had already surfaced regarding management's knowledge of the cashflow quandaries and their adamant indifference towards finding a solution, eliciting statements of "being lied to" to mar the already unfortunate closing. Nevertheless, we're sure someone will get to the bottom of all this, but unfortunately there's nothing they can do to bring all those unreleased (and sexy) mobiles to market.

[Via The Register]

Well, you can imagine the surprise we're all feeling over here at Engadget HQ at the news of Xero Mobile -- the MVNO started by former Gizmondo execs -- getting calls from the US Securities and Exchange Commission regarding their "conducting an informal inquiry relating to certain aspects of the company's business." For example, how they intend to pay back all those investors after a track record of pump and dump business scams? Something like that? Apparently Xero feigned innocence, shrugging off the initial inquiry, stating they are "unaware of the reason for the request," but apparently are preparing to cooperate voluntarily even though no formal investigation has begun. Oh sure, we have to give them credit for opening themselves up to SEC queries even though they're not yet formally indicted, but you'll have to forgive us if we're just a little skeptical about these guys, even when they claim to be showing their hand.