(Telecompaper) The European Commission has found that Infineon, Philips, Samsung and Renesas coordinated their market behaviour for smart card chips, in breach of EU rules that prohibit cartels. The Commission imposed fines totaling EUR 138 million on three of the companies, while Renesas benefited from immunity after it revealed the cartel to the EC. An earlier attempt at a settlement with the companies proved unsuccessful. According to the Commission, the companies colluded through bilateral contacts in the period September 2003 to September 2005, when they discussed respective responses to customer requests to lower prices. The smart card chips are used in SIM cards, bank cards, identity cards and passports, pay TV cards, and various other applications. Infineon received the largest fine of EUR 82.8 million, and Philips will pay EUR 20.1 million. Samsung received a 30 percent reduction for cooperating, putting its fine at EUR 35.2 million.