For HTC, keeping its OS providers happy seems to be a bit of a juggling act.
The Taiwanese handset maker has broadened its patent agreement with Microsoft to include the software giant’s intellectual property in use in its Android phones. Unlike Apple; which owns its own operating system, HTC has to deal with multiple providers, most notably Microsoft and Google.
So with Windows Phone 7 on the way, analysts see the widening of the patent agreement between the two companies as a shrewd move.
Enterprise Mobile Today takes a look at the expanded patent deal between Microsoft and HTC.
Microsoft and Taiwanese handset maker HTC are expanding a patent agreement through which Microsoft will now provide coverage for HTC’s Android phones under the software giant’s patent portfolio.
Android phones have grown to become an important part of HTC’s business, patent coverage for which it’s willing to pay Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) royalties, the two companies said.
“HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today’s agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property,” Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft, said in a statement. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC.”