Microsoft Licenses Patents To HTC For Android Phones

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HTC will pay Microsoft an undisclosed amount of money for the intellectual property rights, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft views this agreement as an effective example of how industry leaders can reach commercially reasonable arrangements that address intellectual property concerns, according to the company.

"HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today's agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft, in a statement. "We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC."

The agreement could help HTC in its legal battle with Apple, which has sued HTC for patent infringements including multitouch user control and a swipe-to-unlock screen. HTC could be hoping access to Microsoft's patents allays any holes in HTC's portfolio.

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Meanwhile, HTC also could be looking to develop or acquire its own mobile operating system, the company's CFO, Cheng Hui-ming, said earlier this month. HTC traditionally has built devices around third-party operating systems, mainly Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

Also on Wednesday, HTC said it planned to unveil a Windows 7 phone by the end of the year, according to Reuters.

HTC remained quiet on its patent deal with Microsoft. As of Wednesday morning, the company had offered no details or statement on its Web site.