The Redmond-based technology giant has just signed a new patent licensing deal

Jan 17, 2013 18:31 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has just announced that it had signed a patent licensing agreement with German car manufacturer BMW that would allow the company to use exFAT technology in the infotainment systems available on its vehicles.

“Cutting-edge technology is a must for today’s leading automotive brands,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft. “This agreement allows BMW to utilize a modern file system to deliver a more entertaining and connected driving experience.”

BMW is not the only company to have chosen to use Microsoft’s exFAT file system, as several other firms, including RIM and Sharp, have decided to go for the technology developed by the Redmond-based technology company.

exFAT is an improved version of the FAT file system that allows flash memory devices to handle files five times larger, while also providing increased speed and portability.