Hi, Apparently HTC, biggest manufacturer of both Android and Windows Mobile handsets, thinks so (from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20003602-56.html):
"Microsoft and HTC announced they have inked a new patent deal that specifically provides the Taiwanese cell phone maker with the right to use Microsoft's patented technologies in phones running Google's Android operating system. Microsoft said it has been in talks with other phone makers. [...] Although Microsoft and HTC did not disclose details of the financial terms of their agreement, they did note that 'Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC.' The deal covers all Android-based phones made by HTC, including the Nexus One, which Google sells directly." Didn't see that coming. Now HTC hasn't announced anything, so maybe they see this very different from Microsoft (like Novell did a while ago when they struck a deal with Microsoft). It wouldn't be good for Android if vendors had to pay royalties for each Android phone, but not catastrophic, either - how do you battle the iPhone if not with Android? Now I speculate: Since HTC pays royalties for Windows Mobile anyway, maybe Microsoft gave HTC a discount on the Windows Mobile side for playing along here, so that HTC don't pay much more, if anything at at all. And maybe HTC can use these patents to battle Apple somehow? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
