CHICAGO (STMW) – Motorola’s mobile division is suing Apple for alleged patent infringements in the iPhone, iPad, iTouch and in some computers.

Motorola Mobility’s three complaints — filed in federal court in Chicago on Wednesday — cover 18 patents covering antenna design, wireless communication technologies and smart-phone technologies, the Schaumburg-based smart-phone manufacturer announced today.

“After Apple’s late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license,” said Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility, in a statement. “Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its research-and-development and intellectual property, which are critical to the company’s business.”

An Apple spokesman declined comment.

Motorola Mobility is the name of Motorola’s wireless business. Motorola Inc. will split in two in the first quarter of 2011, combining the mobile-phone and set-top box divisions into one publicly traded company — Motorola Mobility — and the enterprise mobility and networks units into a second business.

Motorola’s lawsuit follows last week’s action by Microsoft filing suit against Motorola’s Android-based smart phones for allegedly violating Microsoft patents covering battery-power and signal-strength notification, synchronization of email and contacts and a phone’s ability to perform meeting scheduling.

The lawsuits stem from increasing competition and overlap between computer companies and wireless telecommunications companies.

Separately, Apple announced today that it will partner with Verizon Wireless early next year to offer the iPhone, which now operates exclusively with AT&T.

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