Microsoft flogs Android and Chrome licences to Quanta

PATENT ROYALTY COLLECTOR Microsoft has inked yet another Android patent agreement, this time with original design manufacturer (ODM) Quanta.

Microsoft has slowly but surely been amassing patent licensing agreements for Google's Android operating system from big hitters such as HTC and Samsung. Now the firm has managed to snare one of the largest ODMs around, Quanta, making it agree to pay royalties for Google's Android and Chrome operating systems.

Quanta designs and manufactures equipment for many brands and its decision to sign on Microsoft's dotted line should further intensify the pressure on Google to protect its partners from potential litigation. Unlike previous agreements, Quanta's deal also covered the Chrome operating system, meaning that Android is not the only Google product Microsoft has in its sights.

Microsoft didn't disclose the terms of the agreement but Horacio Gutierrez, corporate VP and deputy general counsel in the Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft said, "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Quanta, and proud of the continued success of our Android licensing program in resolving IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome devices in the marketplace."

While Google makes virtually no money from Android directly, Microsoft reportedly makes about $440m a year from its Android licensing deals. At this rate, there's a fair chance that Google's software products could become Microsoft's next cash-cow. µ