InformationWeek's Eric Zeman reports today that verizon wireless today announced a licensing deal with Qualcomm competitor Broadcom, in response to the ITC's ban on importing 3G chips from Qualcomm into the United States.

"Verizon Wireless will pay Broadcom $6.00 for each 1xEV-DO handset, PDA or data card sold after the effective date, subject to a maximum payment of $40 million per calendar quarter and a lifetime maximum payment of $200 million," Zeman writes. "The agreement provides Verizon a license to the six Broadcom patents currently being litigated between Broadcom and Qualcomm. Broadcom offered Qualcomm this same $6-per-chip deal, but Qualcomm turned Broadcom down. "

In a statement released immediately following Verizon's announcement, Qualcomm asserted, "Although the announced deal would appear to reduce the risk of disruption of Verizon Wireless' network, it does not resolve the problems arising from the ITC's order for the many other wireless carriers affected by the ITC's order, their tens of millions of subscribers, their suppliers, and the public safety and other vital organizations that depend upon their networks and services."

More here from ZDNet ... more here from the Associated Press ... more here from Reuters ... and the press release is here.