Apple already has pending cases against Samsung and Motorola, both heavy Android users.This preliminary ruling is an important win for Apple as it looks likely that almost all Android devices will infringe on the two patents, filed in 1994 and 1996.
If this is the case then Apples suits against Samsung and Motorola would be significantly strengthened.Although the real focus of attention for Apple is actually Android, the strategy is not to go after Android (and therefore Google) directly but to make life difficult for smartphone makers, and discourage them from producing Android-based devices.Globally Android is racing ahead of Apples iOS in market share with Gartner estimating that Android now holds 38% market share and Apples iOS 16%. HTC and Samsung in particular have focused much of their energy on the Android market over the past couple of years and played a significant part in Androids success to date. Now it could earn them ever increasing amounts of negative attention from Apple and other software makers.Microsofts Android windfallIn HTCs case this is already happening with HTC reportedly paying Microsoft $5 for each Android phone it sells. Although HTC hasnt publicly admitted to this, all evidence suggests that this is true.
The agreement goes back to April 2010 when HTC and Microsoft signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsofts patent portfolio for HTCs mobile phones running the Android mobile platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC.Ironically this means that Microsoft is probably making more money from Androids success than it is from selling its own Windows Phone 7-based devices. Estimates of Windows Phone 7 sales range between 2 and 4 million devices to date. Compare that with Android which has more than 500,000 devices activated daily. At $5 each, thats $2.5 million for Microsofts coffers each day.Users seem largely unconcerned by the patent wars going on behind the scenes in the smartphone market, even though at least one survey suggests that US users have a preference for Apples iOS over Android.
The reality is that Android is now available in so many different devices that it is far easier for consumers to buy an Android phone than it is to buy an iPhone. Also, Android is shipping on high-end smartphones, entry-level smartphones and tablet PCs and so covers most of the mobile device market.The remainder of 2011 is sure to see an increasing number of patent battles in the smartphone market as all the big players fight for their niche.
{ 0 komentar... read them below or add one }
Posting Komentar