After Huawei adopted Google’s Android its market share has been increasing slowly but steadily. And guess what? Even Huawei is added to the list of prominent manufacturers on the Android based platform which includes the like of Samsung and HTC to name a few.
And as per Victor Xu, CMO, Huawei has already agreed to the Microsoft patent licensing and is in the process of finalising the details of the fee. based on previous licensing agreements one can safely assume that Huawei will have an arrangement wherein they will be required to pay some fixed royalty per device to Microsoft.
Microsoft already has similar arrangements with leading Android players like Samsung, HTC, Compal (which helps make devices for Dell, HP and Toshiba), Acer, Viewsonic etc. Interestingly, though Victor Xu spoke of the Google – Motorola deal wherein Google acquired Motorola Mobility along with their patent portfolio. Xu tried to suggest that maybe Google should be more proactive and protect players producing Android phones.
Its interesting to note how Microsoft goes after players only after they start showing a northwards trend. Meanwhile, Huawei has some aggressive plans in place wherein they aspire to acquire an ambitious top five slot in the smartphone race in the next three years and top three in the next five years.
Huawei intends to open design centres in markets where they are doing well and intend to manufacture handsets based on the profile of the market they are selling in. Wondering ho successful the strategy will be. Huawei does have some aggressive targets for sure and it will be interesting to see where to do they manage to get from here…
Source: Guardian
