Earlier today we reported that Microsoft inked a patent deal with Samsung over its Android products. This is obviously a bit upsetting for Google as another one of their vendors has been pulled in to the Microsoft domain by having to pay to produce a Google product. Not wanting to sit around and get trampled on, Google issued a statement about this agreement.
The statement comes via TechCrunch and is pasted below:
This is the same tactic we’ve seen time and again from Microsoft. Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others’ achievements and hinder the pace of innovation. We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners.
The word choices used by Google show their strong detest for this agreement. Google goes as far to say that Microsoft is extorting its partners to suck away their profits. The reality is, Microsoft apparently has a strong case against Android, otherwise so many vendors (especially Samsung who in their own right is a massive corporation capable of defending themselves in court) would not have agreed to Microsoft's terms.
But not to be outdone, Microsoft, unofficially responded to Google's accusations. Frank Shaw, lead corporate communications for Microsoft, responded with the following tweet below:
Clearly, Shaw is instigating that Google is simply crying over the fact that Microsoft has them in a corner with their patent portfolio and even the pending acquisition of Motorola is not stopping vendors from signing deals with Microsoft.
This latest round of corporate mudslinging shows the volatility of this business. Even if you agree or disagree with Microsoft's tactics with their pursuit of Android, it's nothing personal, it's just business.
51 Comments - Add comment