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Verizon sides with Samsung in Apple patent spat

Verizon, claiming that the ban of Samsung devices in the U.S. would slow the adoption of its high-speed network, is weighing in on the Apple-Samsung patent row.
Written by Zack Whittaker, Contributor

The U.S.' largest mobile provider, Verizon, has sided with Samsung as Apple pursues its case to ban some of Samsung's handsets in the country.

Many of Samsung's phones run on high-speed networks. If Apple's injunction goes ahead to ban a select number of Samsung's phones, Verizon will struggle in adopting its high-speed network to end users, it is argued.

Samsung phones are the most popular devices in the United States. By banning the sales of certain Samsung devices, combined with the end-game goal of a higher adoption than other networks, Verizon would struggle to gain its projected marketshare of high-speed subscribers if Samsung were to be faced with a sales injunction.

In the court filing, Verizon argues: "The accused Samsung devices are among the few products that can access Verizon Wireless's next-generation high-speed network." It also states that a slowed high-speed network deployment would be "contrary to the stated goals of the U.S. government".

Though Verizon continues to sell iPhones, it also sells the Samsung Droid Charge, which is compatible with its 4G network.

Apple sued Samsung in April, asking for a ban of its devices in the U.S., as Verizon only recently submitted its filing ahead of a hearing in mid-October.

Other high-speed networks and cellular carriers, such as AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile have yet to weigh in on the case, should they wish to.

Apple and Samsung have locked horns over the past year over allegations that devices and hardware components infringe one another's patents or design models, leading to widespread suing and counter-suing in over twenty countries to date.

Last month, Apple won an injunction against Samsung in Germany, banning the sale of its Galaxy Tab tablets -- a symbolic victory, which could take precedence in other jurisdictions around the world.

Though Apple's victory came at a great cost for Samsung, the phone giant is countering every threat it faces.

Samsung is currently fighting off a number of lawsuits in different regions, one including the Netherlands. The phone manufacturer is seeking a ban on 3G-enabled iPhones and iPads, stating that Apple infringed its networking patents.

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