Fresh from yesterday’s shock news of a licensing deal between HTC and Microsoft concerning what’s believed to be several MS patents that are possibly infringed by either Android itself or HTC’s Sense UI, serious newsy site Businessweek has today attempted to put a figure on exactly how much HTC is having to hand over.
And it’s high, with one analyst suggesting HTC could have to hand over up to $40 for every Android-powered smartphone it sells as a result of this week’s patent agreement with Microsoft.
Here’s a chunk of text we’ve stolen from Businessweek:
“Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group in San Jose, California, estimates that HTC and most other handset manufacturers would have to pay Microsoft $20 to $40 per phone to license the intellectual property required for Android.”
Enderle then goes on to suggest that it could impact on the popularity of Android itself, because “Nobody wants to deal with Microsoft”. Blimey. Link via Pocketnow.
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Sony returns with an all-new mobile design for 2012, pairing a dual-core processor with a 720p display. It’s a lovely phone, but is it enough to end our Samsung and HTC obsession?
LG’s updated Prada phone comes with an absolutely crazy black & white theme, but is it just for fashionable suit wearers who want to make themselves look a bit more interesting?
Mark
/ April 29, 2010This is BS. Without knowing what the patent(s) actually are, nobody can even begin to guess how much HTC are paying.
There are some even suggesting it’s not android itself, but some elements of it’s SenseUI (Microsoft clearly like to imply it’s the core OS, as that fits their agenda nicely). There are also suggestions it’s a patent exchange for some upcoming Microsoft handset.
Niels Christiansen
/ April 30, 2010I sincerely hope this is BS. 20 – 40 $ per handset is a serious amount of money.
It would potentially be a gamechanger for everyone in a world where a few coins can make or break for a feature implementation.
I’m so fscking tired of whiners and their litigations.
Anonymous
/ April 30, 2010Anybody who has come across Rob Enderle before will know to discount this. Enderle is no more an informed analyst than my dog, and he has acted as a MS shill in the past. I bet this is based on no knowledge or insight whatsoever.
Mike Silva
/ May 2, 2010The end user dererves to know where his money is going when choosing an HTC product, so either they tell us, or they are with Micro$oft against poencial buyers.
If you want an HTC, get a Nexus One or if you prefer any other brand, choose one that doesn’t include the Micro$oft TAX.
Anonymous
/ May 2, 2010Remember the patent deal M$ signed with SCO unix years ago? just check what SCO has done since then.