ORLANDO, Fla., May 21 -- Agere Systems Inc. has agreed to give communications chip maker RF Micro Devices Inc. access to its Florida plant in order to jointly develop components for wireless devices. In return, RF Micro will invest $58 million over the next two years to upgrade the manufacturing clean room in Agere's factory as well as for equipment used to make silicon wafers.
    RF Micro, which is based in Greensboro, N.C., said its contribution would let it expand chip-making abilities for a fraction of the cost of building a new facility. The deal will not significantly add to earnings until fiscal 2003, which will begin in April 2002, RF Micro said.
    As part of the deal, the companies said they would also collaborate on new product designs and create a center of excellence to advance radio frequency technology.