Samsung caves in to Microsoft's Android licensing demands

Rich Fiscus
28 Sep 2011 10:36

Samsung has become the latest company to enter into a patent licensing agreement with Microsoft for its Android devices.
Since Android has become a significant player in the smartphone market, Microsoft has threatened to sue handset vendors over a handful of mobile phone related patents. They filed a patent lawsuit against Motorola last year.
Microsoft has also made a lot of noise about supposed infringement by Android itself. For years Microsoft has claimed Linux, which Android is based on, violates a number of their patents. However, to date they have never actually said what patents they are talking about.
In the last few months several companies, including Acer, ViewSonic & HTC.
Neither Samsung or Microsoft has disclosed the terms of the new licensing agreement, although statements from both suggest part of the arrangement was a promise by Samsung to continue building Windows Phone handsets, or at least publicly affirm their support for it.
Dr. Won-Pyo Hong, executive vice president of global product strategy at Samsung's mobile communication division, said:

Through the cross-licensing of our respective patent portfolios, Samsung and Microsoft can continue to bring the latest innovations to the mobile industry. We are pleased to build upon our long history of working together to open a new chapter of collaboration beginning with our Windows Phone "Mango" launch this fall.

An announcement of support for Windows Phone may be a bigger deal for Microsoft than any royalties. Rumors about Samsung's plans to ditch Microsoft's smartphone OS after the end of next year began circulating earlier this month.
Given Samsung's current position as a top smartphone manufacturer, and arguably the hottest Android vendor, the prospect of that likely has Microsoft worried.