Microsoft and Quanta Computer reached Android patent licensing agreement

October 14th According to foreign media reports, Microsoft today announced again a deal on Android patent licensing. After reaching similar agreements with big manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Quanta Computer is now also listed on Microsoft's patent licensing list.

On this list of authorized patents, there are not only well-known Android device manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and HTC, but also insignificant small businesses like GDI (General Dynamics Itronix).

Today, the addition of Taiwan’s Quanta Computer has made the list more lively and has given people more speculations and concerns about Microsoft’s patent licensing agreement.

Microsoft's trading statement, as always, is vague and does not disclose the specific terms of the transaction. The statement only stated that as a condition of patent exchange, Quanta Computer will pay royalties for each device running Android or Chrome OS.

What can be used to run Android or Chrome OS for each department, but it is marked with the equipment of Quanta Computer's own brand and pays the copyright fee, or for each device that runs Android or Chrome OS via Quanta Computer? Pay copyright fees? This is not known. In the former case, things are much simpler; but if the latter, Microsoft will become a big winner.

Although Quanta Computer is not a heavyweight brand, they are one of the largest PC foundries in the world. In other words, Quanta Computer manufactures and assembles equipment for many world-renowned brands, such as Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet PC, which is produced from Quanta.

Microsoft has never disclosed the specific content of patent fees in past transactions. Microsoft and Taiwan Wistron have also reached similar transactions. The latter is a subsidiary of Acer's spin-off. The main business is also the OEM production of different brands of electronic products. However, the specific terms of the patent agreements between the two parties have never been disclosed.

The media believes that Microsoft is taking a dangerous path on patent licensing, and banks are likely to stay away from Microsoft. Google has never been a supporter of Microsoft and is therefore looking forward to what Google will do next to Microsoft’s approach.