Microsoft announced its second Android patent-protection deal this week on June 29.

Just days after announcing that General Dynamics was paying Microsoft undisclosed patent royalties to cover Android-based ruggedized devices it was selling, Microsoft announced a similar deal with Velocity Micro Inc.

Microsoft and Velocity "have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for Velocity Micro Inc. Android-based devices, including Velocity Micro, Inc.’s Cruz Tablet," according to Microsoft's press release. As in the case with General Dynamics, terms are not being made public, other than the fact that Microsoft will received some undisclosed royalties.

Velocity Micro, based in Richmond, Virg., is an OEM that provides companies with custom-designed and -built gaming system, PCs, notebooks, workstations, servers and small-business systems. While its Cruz tablet runs Android, its notebooks run Windows 7.

Microsoft has been targeting vendors running Google’s Linux-based Android operating system and is working to convince them to pay royalties to Microsoft to cover alleged patent-infringement issues involving Android. HTC signed a patent-protection deal with Microsoft for an undisclosed amount last year that focused on Android.

Not all Android vendors are signing on the IP (intellectual property) dotted line, however. Barnes & Noble is in a legal fight with Microsoft over Microsoft’s claim from earlier this year that the Android-based Nook e-reader violates Microsoft patents.

See also:

• Is Microsoft secretly bidding for Nortel's patents? (And if so, why?)
• Microsoft convinces another Android vendor to sign a patent-protection deal
• Is the Microsoft-HTC patent deal more about Linux or Apple?