Microsoft has announced that it has signed a new patent licensing deal with Voxx Electronics, formerly Audiovox Electronics. Under this new agreement, Voxx Electronics will use Microsoft’s patents in its Android devices, including “including rear-seat entertainment devices, tablets and other consumer devices.”
“Microsoft Corp. and Voxx Electronics Corp. (formerly Audiovox Electronics Corp.) announced on Thursday a worldwide patent licensing agreement providing Voxx Electronics with broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for devices running the Android OS, including rear-seat entertainment devices, tablets and other consumer devices. While the contents of the agreement are confidential, the parties indicate that Microsoft will receive royalties from Voxx Electronics under the agreement,” according to the official press release.
The terms and conditions of the deal are still confidential, but the press release states the Redmond-based company will receive royalties from Voxx Electronics for the use of its patents under the agreement, although there’s no word about how much it is.
“Our customers depend on Voxx Electronics to deliver cutting-edge mobile and consumer electronics, and the licensing deal with Microsoft enables us to better deliver those technologies in mobile devices and the ‘connected cars’ of today and tomorrow,” said Tom Malone, president of Voxx Electronics.
This is not the first time Microsoft has allowed other manufacturers to use patents from it’s portfolio, the company has signed several patent licensing deals in the past with manufacturers, such as Samsung, LG, HTC and more. They never disclose the amount of royalties the company gets, but a few analysts estimated Microsoft racks up nearly $2 billion from its patent licensing deals, according to ZDNet.
