Sharp Licenses Microsoft’s exFAT Technology for Use in Android Smartphones

On Tuesday, Microsoft and Sharp announced the signing of an IP licensing agreement through which Sharp will be able to use Microsoft’s new Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) technology inside Android smartphones.

exFAT is a new file system that has been designed to provide increased support for large files for audiovisual media.

Moreover, it can provide seamless data portability, which means that users can benefit from easy interchange of files between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.

exFAT builds on the success of its predecessor, the FAT file system, and expands the size of files that flash memory devices will be able to handle.

With the new technology inside, devices will be able to support file sizes up to five times higher than those supported before.

Additionally, Microsoft notes that exFAT comes with improvements brought to the speeds at which these files can be accessed.

Through the new agreement, Sharp will be able to include the new file system in its product portfolio, thus providing users with faster response times and increased storage capabilities.

"Consumers today move from mobile phones, to PCs, to home entertainment systems throughout their day - and they expect their media to move as seamlessly across those devices as they do," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft.

"This agreement allows Sharp to continue to stay ahead of the curve and give people around the world entertainment and productivity experiences that truly fit their lifestyles."

The Redmond-based software giant also notes that Sharp is only one of the companies it has signed agreements with for the use of exFAT.

Through Microsoft’s IP licensing program similar patent licensing deals were also settled with leading consumer electronics manufacturers such as Panasonic Corp., SANYO Electric Company Ltd., Sony Corp. and Canon Inc.

Additional info on Microsoft’s exFAT licensing program is available on the company’s website.