Following in the footsteps of HTC, Samsung has secured a cross-licensing deal with Microsoft, leaving Motorola as the only major Android maker that doesn't pay Microsoft royalties.
Microsoft didn't specify the patents involved, but said in a statement that they broadly cover technologies found in Samsung mobile phones and tablets. The licensing deal "opens the door to a deeper partnership in the development of new phones for the Windows Phone platform," Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith and Horacio Gutierrez wrote in a blog post.
Similarly, Won-Pyo Hong, executive vice president of global product strategy for Samsung's mobile division said, "We are pleased to build upon our long history of working together to open a new chapter of collaboration beginning with our Windows Phone 'Mango' launch this fall."
Yesterday Samsung announced the Omnia W, its first "Mango" device that will launch in Italy in late October, followed by Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia.
In Microsoft's blog post, its lawyers rather cheekily added that today's announcement "leaves Motorola Mobility, with which Microsoft is currently in litigation, as the only major Android smartphone manufacturer in the U.S. without a license."
In 2010, Microsoft and HTC announced a patent deal that provided "broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for HTC's mobile phones running the Android mobile platform."
This may explain why HTC has announced more Mango devices than any other major developer, and will debut Mango on T-Mobile (the HTC Radar 4G and HTC Titan) and AT&T (the HTC Titan). Last month, PCMag mobile analyst Sascha Segan got some hands-on time with both devices.
According to reports that emerged this summer, Microsoft recoups $5 per HTC Android device.
For more, see What If Android Lost the Patent War?