Qualcomm rejects Broadcom offer

Qualcomm Inc. of San Diego rejected an offer from smaller rival Broadcom Corp. to settle a patent dispute, saying it would cost as much as $2 billion.

Irvine-based Broadcom is seeking $6 for every handset sold with a Qualcomm chip that was found to infringe a patent for a battery-saving feature, a Broadcom spokesman said. Qualcomm rejected the offer, made this week, and instead offered to pay $100 million and agree that the firms would give each other royalty-free access to patents.