ZTE has come to an agreement with Microsoft to license the company’s technology that is being borrowed in the Android and Chrome operating systems. Microsoft has signed licensing deals with more than 20 other manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and LG. In fact, the company claims that 80% of Android smartphones sold in the U.S. and a majority of those sold throughout the world are now covered under its various agreements. Of course, there are still some companies — most notably, Google’s Motorola Mobility — that have not yet come to terms with Microsoft.
“We have worked for multiple years to reach an amicable solution with the few global companies who have yet to take a license, but so far they have been unwilling to address these issues in a fair manner,” said Horacio Gutierrez, VP and deputy general counsel at Microsoft “We’d prefer to consider these companies licensing partners and remain hopeful they can join the rest of the industry in the near future.”
Microsoft has not disclosed terms of the deal, although earlier agreements saw companies pay royalties on every smartphone and tablet sold. It is also possible, however, that the two companies could have signed a cross-licensing agreement similar to the one between HTC and Apple.
