China’s ZTE Corp, one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, has agreed to pay Microsoft Corp a royalty for devices it makes using Google Inc’s Android and Chrome operating systems.<\/p>\n
ZTE is the latest in a line of hardware manufacturers that have struck a patent deal with Microsoft, which has successfully argued that Android – which Google provides free to handset makers – uses Microsoft-owned technology.<\/p>\n
Google itself, and its Motorola phone maker unit, are the most notable holdouts against a patent agreement with Microsoft. Those differences could be settled soon, depending on the judge’s verdict in a patent trial in Seattle.<\/p>\n
Reaching agreement with ZTE means Microsoft now has patent deals in place with four of the five leading Android phone makers.<\/p>\n
It already has agreements with South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Corp, and with Taiwan’s HTC Corp.<\/p>\n
It has no deal with China’s fast-growing Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.<\/p>\n
The ZTE deal marks progress for Microsoft with companies operating in China, following last week’s patent agreement with contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, parent of Foxconn.<\/p>\n
Microsoft said it now has Android patent deals with about 20 device makers, and 60 percent of Android phones sold worldwide are covered by a Microsoft patent license.<\/p>\n
Huawei, ZTE closing in on Apple, Samsung<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n ZTE targets 50 million smartphones in 2013<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n