14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Samsung are currently challenging each other in court over a possible breach of contract involving Android patents owned by the Redmond-based software giant, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the two companies cannot continue talks for future projects.
Today, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella met Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to discuss not only the recently started legal action, but also future projects that would see the South Korean giant switch from Android to Windows.
Korea Times writes that Nadella and Jae-yong discussed about cloud computing and mobile security platforms, but also about the recent patent dispute, which is the most obvious indication that a settlement is very close in this case.
Microsoft has recently filed a lawsuit against Samsung, accusing the South Korean company of not paying its Android royalties after the Nokia deal was announced in September 2013.
Switching from Android to Windows very likely
Samsung, which is currently the maker of some of the most popular handhelds in the world, including the Galaxy S and Note lineups, is one of the companies that are using Google’s Android mobile operating system for its devices, but this could change very soon.
Talks with Satya Nadella could be an indication that Samsung might actually launch devices powered by Windows Phone in the near future, with Jae-yong admitting that developing such products for specific markets is indeed a possibility.
“The two agreed to peace talks over ongoing patent disputes, and to expand their business partnership,” a company official said. “The key point is that Microsoft still hopes to continue its longtime partnership with Samsung over the coming decades.”
Microsoft and Samsung could settle the lawsuit
Microsoft started the legal action against Samsung in July 2014, but people close to the talks revealed last month that the two companies were very likely to reach a settlement.
While there’s no doubt that Samsung breached the terms of the contract, it appears that Microsoft is pressuring the company to give up on Android and switch to Windows Phone, which would obviously be a major win for Redmond, as it continues to invest aggressively in the mobile business.
“The key point is that Microsoft wants to settle the lawsuit and it's no surprise to see that the two technology giants have resumed ‘working-level’ discussions on how to dismiss lawsuits filed by Microsoft to a New York court,” a source familiar with the talks revealed last month.
Microsoft itself hasn’t commented on plans to convince Samsung to switch to Windows Phone in the coming years, but this is clearly a thing that Redmond would be very pleased with.
Windows Phone still struggles to gain market share against Android and iOS, and getting Samsung on its side would really be a big win, but it remains to be seen if these talks indeed come to a conclusion.