Microsoft gets Research in Motion to buy an exFAT licence

SOFTWARE LICENSING OUTFIT Microsoft has signed a license agreement with Research in Motion (RIM) for use of the exFAT file system.

Microsoft's exFAT file system is primarily used for swapping files between mobile devices and Windows PCs. Now the firm has managed to snare RIM in its licensing net and made it get a licence to use exFAT in Blackberry devices.

According to Microsoft the licensing agreement between it and RIM somehow validates the need for exFAT in mobile devices. However the firm didn't mention that it is needed only because most PCs use Windows and not alternative operating systems.

David Kaefer, GM of Intellectual Property Licensing at Microsoft said, "Today's smartphones and tablets require the capacity to display richer images and data than traditional cellular phones. This agreement with RIM highlights how a modern file system, such as exFAT can help directly address the specific needs of customers in the mobile industry."

Microsoft has managed to get most Android device makers to sign up to pay a fee to use Google's operating system. However RIM is different because it signed the agreement not because it uses Android but something even more basic, a filesystem.

Microsoft did not disclose the terms of the licensing agreement, especially not how much money it will receive, most likely because the royalty probably is small. µ