14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced a new licensing deal with Casio that covers a number of undisclosed patents to be used on smartwatches manufactured by the Japanese company.
The Redmond-based software giant is the owner of several patents used on Android devices, and the company is making billions of them, only by allowing manufacturers of such products to use patented technologies on their smartphones, tablets, or cameras.
After conquering Android with its patents, Microsoft is now going after Android Wear, and Casio appears to be one of the first companies interested in paying royalties for using certain technologies on its smartphones.
The press release published today points to Casio’s WSD-F10 and WSD-F20 Smart Outdoor Watch as two of the devices benefitted from the deal, as they both run Android Wear and come with capabilities that are otherwise covered by Microsoft’s patents.
Microsoft making $2 billion with patent business
Just as expected, both Microsoft and Casio offered the typical press release statements, though there’s no doubt the software giant is the big winner here as it once again makes more money without moving a single finger.
“Casio’s smartwatches combined with Microsoft’s technology will help customers all over the world achieve more from their wearables,” said Micky Minhas, head of Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC.
“This is an outstanding partnership that builds on Microsoft’s heritage of innovation in the technology powering personal wearables to boost Casio’s best-in-class products in this space.”
No specifics on the terms of the deal were provided, but it’s believed that Microsoft makes around $2 billion a year from these patents and other intellectual property sold to companies building Android devices.
Even though Microsoft has never confirmed these numbers, Samsung, HTC, and others are all paying royalties to Microsoft for their Android devices, and given the fact that they’re building some of the best-selling Android phones, it’s no wonder the company is making so much money out of these deals.