HTC Pays Microsoft for Every Android Phone It Makes

Smartphone manufacturer HTC is required to pay $5 to Microsoft for every Android phone it makes. The fee is the result of a legal settlement between the two companies over patent claims. HTC makes and sells Android phone and tablets as well as Windows Phone 7 units. This might be small change for the Taiwanese phone maker but it could add up to a large amount. HTC

Microsoft sued Barnes & Noble and Motorola for patent infringement claims on Google’s Android mobile operating system. Android is an open source mobile platform that Google lets manufacturers use at no charge. On the other hand, Microsoft sues manufacturers that install the software on every device they sell. People are speculating that the software giant is doing this to push its Windows Phone mobile platform.

Microsoft declined to comment on the reported settlement but the two companies said they settled the patent disputes last April 27. Microsoft and HTC have a long history of commercial and technical relationship and the settlement shows how two companies can work on an agreement regarding intellectual property. According to a Citigroup analyst report, Microsoft is looking for $7.50 to as high as $12.50 for unit license for the infringement of Microsoft patents.

URL : http://www.toptechreviews.net/microsoft/htc-pays-microsoft-for-every-android-phone-it-makes/