Microsoft signs Android patent deal with Motorola Solutions

Microsoft's push to forge patent-licensing deals is continuing with the latest licensee being Motorola Solutions.

(Note: This deal has nothing to do with Motorola Mobility. Motorola Solutions is the communications-services part of Motorola that sells embedded/hardened devices and associated services to enterprise and government customers. Google sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo in late January 2014.)

Microsoft and Motorola Solutions announced the patent agreement on April 21. The deal covers devices that run Android or Chrome OS. These devices include things like handheld computers, vehicle-mounted computers, ruggedized tablet and notebook products, and the like. Motorola Solutions is playing up its Android-based devices in 2014, according to a recent report from its partner conference.

The Microsoft press release announcing the agreement doesn't specify that Motorola Solutions is paying Microsoft an undisclosed patent license fee. That line is often, though not always, part of Microsoft's terminology when disclosing these kinds of deals.

Microsoft has signed Android and/or Chrome OS patent-licensing deals with more than 20 companies, including Dell, Samsung, LG, HTC, Acer, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Microsoft has not publicly disclosed upon which patents it holds that it claims Android and Chrome OS infringe.