Microsoft and Samsung Electronics have signed an agreement to cross-license their patent portfolio.
Under this deal, Microsoft will receive royalties for the phones and tablets that Samsung sells, including those running Google's Android operating system. The two companies will also work together to develop and market Windows Phone software.
This is the seventh deal Microsoft has signed in the last three months with hardware manufacturers that use Android for their smartphones and tablets. Other companies include Acer, Onkyo and HTC. Microsoft also has a partnership with Nokia to make Windows Phone the primary operating system for Nokia products.
Financial terms were not disclosed. According to Evercore Partners analyst Kirk Materne, Microsoft will have very low royalties, but, particularly importantly, with this move the Redmond group further strengthens its relationship with the telephony business.
http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/business-it/microsoft-hops-into-bed-with-samsung-20110929-1kyb1.html
