We’re shocked, yet totally excited to hear the news that Microsoft and LG have signed an agreement that covers a range of Microsoft’s portfolio for LG tablets, smartphones, and other gadgets running on Android or Chrome OS.
So does this mean they will be perfecting the new Chromebook? No one knows for certain, but we’d like to think the three companies could produce a fine laptop (maybe they’ll be OLED; then Intel just needs to hop on board with that Medfield chip!).
Microsoft’s Corporate VP and deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez said in their press release:
“We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Together with our 10 previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the US are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio.”
So basically, Microsoft had a “pre-exisiting” agreement before that is now expanding into a major agreement, and will “ensur[e] a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1,100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners, and competitors to access its IP portfolio.”
Back when Chrome was still developing, LG and Microsoft’s agreement to, “further the development of the companies’ current and future product lines. Microsoft has focused on patent agreements in the recent past to develop a best-practices model for protecting intellectual property[,] [...] including Linux devices.”
So since Android is technically part of Linux, and Android devices are indefinitely run on Linux essentially—there you have the latest agreement between the three.
It’s all sorts of complicated, but we think it could only do well for what we hope is the new Chromebook.
(via Tim Stevens via Engadget; photo via Gizmodo)
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