As you probably know already, Microsoft gets around $5 per each Android device sold and now the list of “partners” also includes two new tablet makers: Aluratek and Coby Electronics. MS is now able to collect royalties on 70% of Android-based devices, which is basically pocket change for the Redmond giant.
Aluratek and Coby could have gone to court in case they wouldn’t have agreed to pay the due fees. Aluratek is primarily known for its Android tablets and e-readers, while Coby is the maker of some cheap Android slates, plus netbooks and even TVs. Microsoft is saying that Android OS and Chrome OS infringe on some of its secretly held patents, so devices based on these platforms are clear money makers for them. It would be nice to see a list of companies paying Microsoft royalties, although I guess that includes basically everyone nowadays.
With Apple constantly attacking Samsung and HTC, Microsoft taking its share out of the Android cash cow and Windows Phone 8 looking like a serious threat, is Android bound to go down anytime soon? Seeing that Google is bragging about activating many hundreds of thousands of units a day, they might as well pay up…
