Microsoft continues to force Android makers to pay up, and the company is now bragging that it owns 70 percent of the Android market.
Thanks to a rock solid patent portfolio, Microsoft has spent the last two years negotiating licensing deals with Android and Chrome OS makers, forcing them to pay Microsoft a piece every time a device sells. Like with other deals, the terms were not disclosed.
Says Microsoft: “We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Together with our ten previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than seventy percent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.”
Result for: smartphone
Samsung has confirmed the existence of the Nexus Prime smartphone.
The company has uploaded the User Agent Profile file for a device dubbed “Nexus Prime,” long rumored to be the first Android phone with Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.
For those keeping count, the device now officially known as Nexus Prime is the “GT-I9250.”
The GT-I9250 is currently in the process of getting both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth certifications, and launch date is expected in late November.
Samsung’s UAP shows a 480 x 800 WVGA resolution screen and an ARM11 processor but those are likely not accurate.
Result for: smartphone
Samsung has announced today that the Galaxy S II is the hottest smartphone in the world, hitting 3 million units sold in just 55 days.
Making the number much more impressive is that fact that the device has not even reached U.S. shores yet, with expected launch date sometime in August.
At 3 million in 55 days, the sales eclipse the original Galaxy’s 85 days for the milestone.
The phone is also Samsung’s fastest selling phone, ever.
When the device hits the U.S., it will sell as the Samsung Function on Verizon, the Within on Sprint and the Attain on AT&T. There is no word on a T-Mobile release, yet.
Samsung has lofty expectations for 10 million sales of the Galaxy S II by the end of the year.
