Dell closes patent deal with Microsoft to use Chrome OS and Android

Microsoft and Dell have agreed to use each other’s patents. For Dell, that means, among other things, that it can use Microsoft proprietary technology for its Android and Chrome OS devices. Dell also has to pay royalties.

Both parties have jointly announced this. According to the companies, it is a patented technology used in Android and Chrome OS devices. Incidentally, in addition to exchanging rights to patent use, Dell still has to pay royalties to Microsoft: many manufacturers of devices with Google software already relinquish royalties to the large software group, including HTC, Samsung and LG.

For paying royalties, Dell will also have the option to license the Xbox console. However, it is not entirely clear what this means: it is unlikely that Dell will build an Xbox itself, but the company may want to use technology that resides in the console.

Due to the many patent deals with makers of Android manufacturers, it is suspected that Microsoft earns more with Google’s mobile operating system than its own Windows Phone. Earlier, the company would have already lowered the license costs for Windows Phone, probably because of disappointing interest.