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Microsoft has to "monetize" on android because it has no choice, as it was almost squeezed out from that market. If Apple and Microsoft smartphone market shares were switched, their roles would be switched as well.
Microsoft has no problem acting like an 800lb gorilla in those markets where it is the 800lb gorilla.
Has Microsoft ever aggressively shut a competitor out of the market using patents before? I don't think they have, their Intellectual Property licensing program is pretty extensive, and has always been.
I'm not sure its because of the position their in, considering that Android encroaches not just on Windows Phone, but on Windows. If it were really about going thermonuclear, so to speak, you'd see a lot more of Apple in Microsoft.
I think Microsoft realizes that'd be a zero sum game though, and is much happier turning Android into another revenue stream. Its the easiest billion dollars they ever made, I bet.




Member since:
2005-11-29
Of course, that's the point of a royalty bearing license. The difference is that Microsoft is willing to play ball and monetize Android. Apple is not, or has not in the past been willing to do so.
Microsoft is a lot more even handed with Android than any other company, and has a signed up a majority of Android OEMs and ODMs.