Microsoft loves Android "cha-ching"

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disolitude said:

Rainbird said:

kowenicki said:

dallas said:
This is GREAT news? Seriously? The money from android isn't going to last forever. When Google's MMI acquisition goes through, it will be able to go toe to toe in the patent trials, in a way that it hasn't been able to do so far.

you're right its awful news...

why would anyone want $0.5bn this year for what amounts to nothing...

this forum becomes more bizarre by the day.

It can be good or bad news depending on your views.

On one hand, Microsoft getting this money from manufacturers utilizing an open smartphone OS could make closed OSs more popular and possibly stall innovation.

On the other hand, Microsoft increasing the cost of Android could make their own WP7 OS more attractive to manufacturers, which is excellent for both Microsoft and the competition in the smartphone market.

Even without this patent fee, android isn't free.

Windows phone 7 has a licensing fee of 15 dollars but it is pretty much maintenance free for the OEM after that. For android, the likes of Samsung and HTC have to spend resources developing the custom skin and UI and optimize it for every phone as well as deploying their own updates, keeping up with Android versions...etc.

There is a lot more than this startup cost at play here. Microsoft has taken a bold move and told carriers and OEMs not to interfere with the OS which is the main reason why their sales are not where they should be.

HTC, Samsung AT&T, Verizon... all want to trap consumers in their own ecosystem with their devices, apps, skins etc... and with Windows Phone, they really can't do that. WP7 is Microsoft's ecosystem, take it or leave it. Its rather ironic because both Samsung and HTC developed their touch UI's that they use for Android on Microsofts Windows Mobile 6...and back then everyone was bitching at microsoft for things not working that they had nothing to do with.

This is all very true. I was shocked when Sprint started carrying WP7 because they love to fill a phone with bloatware. This also means that the Windows phones will never be a flagship phone for any of the carriers unless it's popularity really takes off a la the iPhone.