5 ms·
First of all, Microsoft gets a cut of every Android phone sold[0]. Secondly, does anyone know why Microsoft quit competing when it came to mobile? It seems som
by kuwze 8y ago
First of all, Microsoft gets a cut of every Android phone sold[0].
Secondly, does anyone know why Microsoft quit competing when it came to mobile? It seems something so odd that future history books are going to point it out. I mean I really don't get it. Unless if they are planning to ramp up and go whole hog on Continuum and they don't want to worry about supporting older phones, which this lull allows them to do.
[0]: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-is-making-2bn-a-year-on-android-licensing-five-times-more-than-windows-phone/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-is-making-2bn-a-year...
- why_only_15 8y agoThe article doesn't explain why the OEMs give Microsoft a cut- do you know why?
- deergomoo 8y agoFAT32 royalties. I would assume this does not apply to Android phones without an SD slot though.
- int_19h 8y agoNot FAT32, exFAT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT
- kuwze 8y agoSorry that was a bad example link. I believe most of the cut comes from the fact that Linux 'infringes' on Microsoft patents, so to distribute Linux you have to pay them off. https://www.zdnet.com/article/310-microsoft-patents-used-in-android-licensing-agreements-revealed-by-chinese-gov/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/310-microsoft-patents-used-in-...
- naner 8y agoIt was in the news more several years ago. They shakedown companies using Linux claiming they own various patents covering Linux technology. Microsoft made an example of TomTom who refused a licensing deal and was sued and lost over an obscure FAT filesystem patent.
- fendy3002 8y agoMy take on this is because Microsoft cannot match google's monetize scheme, and afaik this is the reason wphone can't be cheaper than android. Furthermore there already iphone on premium level that replace blackberry at that time. They need to target for specific market segment (lets say phones for corporate and office, or phone for developer) that has minimum apps (whatsapp, etc) and easy to port from other platform (ex: from xamarin / android app). Of course they need to rethink the monetization scheme to match android's price.
- qwerty456127 8y agoMicrosoft did quite well on mobile back in the pre-iPhone days, the battle for the today generation of smartphones has long been lost for them and all the attempts were futile. Perhaps they've chosen to retreat and prepare for the next big battle silently.