In its current state, even a speculated tie-up with Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE wouldn't vault Motorola back into No. 2.

FORBES: Mobile Firms Fight For Third

In Tokyo, shares of Elpida Memory Inc. rallied 6.6% after the Yomiuri Shimbun said the chip maker would seek a capital tie-up with U.S. firm Micron Technology Inc.

WSJ: Japan's Nikkei Rises

The aim is to tag each one with its maker and nutritional information, then tie those in with sales data.

WSJ: Smaller Size? No Thanks to This Pledge