Re: This I do not understand.....
I seem to remember this being a 'standard essential' patent - i.e. it's part of the GSM standard, and all phones must implement it if they're GSM compatible. So yes, the handsets probably do infringe the patent. All handsets, from every manufacturer!
Basically the issue is the utter idiocy of german patent case law. In theory the handset makers all have to pay IPCOM a fee to use the patented stuff, and in theory that fee is pretty small change (a small percentage of the cost of the chip that implements it). Elsewhere in the world, that's the case. In germany? IPCOM can demand billions and the courts will often back them up.
Motorola + Samsung are also trying to pull this particular stunt in germany, and the EU is now investigating them both for market abuse, but somehow IPCOM has slipped the net so far. Hopefully they're on the watch-list.
The whole issue would eventually go away of course - if IPCOM won, nokia would appeal to a higher court, then a higher one.... etc ... and then it would end up at the EU, and nokia would very likely win. Problem is: IPCOM can get nokia phones banned in germany while that happens. And it could take years to appeal. IPCOM will be demanding less money than the cost of losing the whole german market.
It's basically a hold-up. "Pay us money we're illegally demanding, or we shut you down". And nokia can't work around the patent, because it's essential to the standard.