Motorola, a long time Windows Mobile customer is being sued by Microsoft claiming that the handset maker is guilty of patent infringement with its range of Android phones.
The decision came after Motorola decided to stick with the Android OS as opposed to the new Windows Mobile 7 OS which is set to be released later this month .
In a recent filing in a US Court Microsoft claims that Motorola is guilty of infringing nine of its patents in its Android line. Microsoft insiders have told ChannelNews that Microsoft was” banking on Motorola” in the USA market to adopt their new OS.
Microsoft who needs key vendors to support their new mobile OS claims that Motorola has infringed patents that related to email synchronisation, calendars and contacts and meeting scheduling, as well as those that relate to user-notification of changes in signal strength and battery power.
“Our action today merely seeks to ensure respect for our intellectual property rights infringed by Android devices,” said Horacio Gutierrez, deputy general counsel in charge of Microsoft’s intellectual property. “Judging by the recent actions by Apple and Oracle, we are not alone in this respect.” he said.
Microsoft know that without vendor support from phone manufacturers like Motorola is critical if they are to win back market share in the mobile phone space from Apple and Google.
A Motorola spokeswoman told Reuters that the company planned to “vigorously defend itself,” while a Google spokesperson said the company was “disappointed” in Microsoft’s move.
“While we are not a party to this lawsuit, we stand behind the Android platform and the partners who have helped us to develop it,” Google said in a statement.
In the past Motorola was one of Microsoft’s biggest customers especially in the highly competitive US market.
According to Telstra, Motorola phones running the old Windows Mobile OS was the Companies most successful Smartphone prior to the release of the Apple iPhone and new Android based Smartphones.
