
Microsoft has
announced today that it has reached patent licensing agreements with Acer and ViewSonic that cover Android smart phones and tablets. These companies join HTC [and several others] in paying Microsoft for each deployed Android device. Microsoft's strategic approach to Android is very different from Apple's. Where Apple is attempting to stop or otherwise delay the deployment of Android devices Microsoft is lining their coffers with royalties paid by OEMs for the privilege of shipping them. It's a strategy that is already generating more profit for Microsoft the its less then successful Windows Phone platform and could contribute dramatically to Microsofts bottom line going forward.
Member since:
2009-09-03
I wouldn't call ACER a little guy by any means, but Microsoft is just being.. Microsoft. When looking at Apple and Microsoft, trying to make up my mind as to which is worse I keep reminding myself Microsoft did one thing Apple has yet to do(?): make the U.S government use their trade agreement to kill international competition. They killed numerous products and companies, surely more than Apple did, though much less high profile and most illegally so.