Samsung Turns to Microsoft, Weighs Post-Verdict Strategy

30.08.2012
Samsung is huddling with American wireless carriers to discuss design modifications that will allow the carriers to continue to sell the South Korean company's handsets, according to .

Samsung was stingy on details about the talks, with a company official telling the Times that "this will be effective, though we can't unveil more details for the time being."

Samsung officials also revealed that the company planned to more closely partner with Microsoft to reduce its dependence on Google's Android operating system for mobile devices.

The phone maker a number of new devices Wednesday that use Microsoft's upcoming Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT operating systems.

If Samsung does increase its involvement in developing Windows products, it could give an energy boost to what's been a moribund market for Microsoft. "Our research shows that for many years, poor sales of Windows-based phones stem from a deep and stable lack of consumer interest for the product," Pierre Ferragu, an analyst at Bernstein Research, .

"Despite the launch of numerous phones based on Windows with strong features, reviews and marketing support, the operating system remains cornered to less than 5 percent market share in smartphones," Ferragu wrote.

Following the verdict against Samsung, Google appeared to distance itself from the largest maker of Android handsets in the world. It claimed that the patents involved in the case were unrelated to the "core Android operating system."

Meanwhile, Samsung says it will continue to wage its intellectual property war against Apple in the courts, the Times reported.

The company said it will press its claims in 50 patent disputes in 10 countries, as well as challenge most of the infringement findings in the verdict handed down in California.

It also pledged to sue Apple if it releases any products using LTE technology, a stance that seems to be aimed at the next iPhone since the iPad already had LTE connectivity.

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