Microsoft had participated in a bidding process for acquiring the rights of Nortel patent and finally got it in their favor. It is being said that there was actually no need for the Software giant to enter the bidding but it has and has now acquired Nortel patent. Microsoft left everyone confused with this acquisition. The question lingering in one’s mind would be whether Microsoft is acting like a evil genius or is it just evil!
Evil genius because its new acquisition will help many Microsoft lovers to enjoy this collaboration and evil because its intentions might just turn out to be termed as ‘Android Killer’. In June, Microsoft did not show any major likings to bid for the patents and it was quite right as already Microsoft had the agreements with Nortel in regards to patent licensing.
Google’s Android had actually killed Windows Mobile and now Microsoft would like to resume the fight and would want to turn the tables. What would Microsoft’s focus be to achieve it? It can board the Android train and make a free tour to success. Forbes has reported that having patented the deals for licensing with General Dynamics, HTD and even others, would easily help the giant to generate an income of more than one billion USD in the coming year. Additionally convincing Samsung for signing a deal, it could majorly force even other Android partners to sign deal with Microsoft.
However if the auction would had been won by Google(Yes Google had even participated in the bidding), it would have been a completely different story. Google for now has around 700 patented and Microsoft already has more than 17000 patents. This deal would have helped Google to get their patent list to more than 6000. Microsoft however was helped by Apple to steal the bid away from Google.
Microsoft now is basically in a win-win situation and this strategy can actually go down in the history books as one of the best moves made by Microsoft. Google’s Android partners basically are facing threats from Microsoft and these continued threats will majorly affect Google when the talks of reconsidering the license agreements begins. Windows Phone is not a hit in the current market scenario but this move by the Software Giant will make Windows Phone smile broadly.
Talking about the monetary terms, a lot of money might just roll out of Google’s hands and would pile up in Microsoft lockers. The patent fee on Android will now be paid to Microsoft as well. In short, now Microsoft will earn more moveny than Google from the Android sales. This is not what Google would have imagined a year ago. It can be for-casted that Google might have nightmares thinking of this deal and definitely it would be an ultimate one.
As assumed, there were even complains made against this deal in Canada and US by Google, HP, Verizon and a few others. But once it was reiterated by the Judge that the existing licensing agreements would not be negate, no matter whoever would have got the deal. Microsoft sailed as a clear winner in Canada’s as well as US courts.
Apple who helped Microsoft in winning this deal, would have an excuse that it was trying to prevent its market share (relating to iPhone) go down. But the bottom line is that it looks majorly only an evil step by Microsoft and Apple to dethrone Google from its deserving and hard earned kingship. It would have been really awesome if Microsoft would have done the same thing with some innovations to its devices. This yet again proves that keeping good relations with enemies even benefits one.