Eric Schmidt: “Microsoft is not telling the truth”
While touring South Korea, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt cleared some issues regarding whether the Motorola Mobility deal would affect other mobile manufacturer partners using Android, and whether the Android platform will remain free even with Microsoft’s patent deals.
“We will run (Motorola) sufficiently independently so it will not violate the openness of Android,” Schmidt said at a news conference.
Samsung Electronics is the largest maker of Android devices, but when Google announced the Motorola deal, Samsung made it a point to become somewhat Android-independent just in case the deal would affect their status in the mobile arena. They made a tablet that runs on Microsoft Windows 8, they’re pushing for more Bada-powered devices, and they’re working with the Linux Foundation to make a new OS called Tizen, which will support a lot of devices from computers, smartphones, tablets, and even smart TVs.
And it isn’t a secret, but manufacturers using the Android platform were brought to court by different companies for patent infringement cases, and to avoid future lawsuits, ODMs signed a patent licensing deal with Microsoft, which requires them to pay royalties. Microsoft’s move led to this question: “Is Android no longer free?”
Schmidt insisted that they would continue to offer Android for free and that, “Microsoft is not telling the truth on this issue, and they are using tactics to scare people because they are scared of the success of Android.”
Otherwise, Schmidt praised South Korea for their efforts towards the Android platform and promised to launch a new program for developers that would cater to the local market. They are also pushing for Android-based smart TVs with Samsung and maybe LG to follow up their internet TV offering from Sony.
Since you’re here …
… We’d like to tell you about our mission and how you can help us fulfill it. SiliconANGLE Media Inc.’s business model is based on the intrinsic value of the content, not advertising. Unlike many online publications, we don’t have a paywall or run banner advertising, because we want to keep our journalism open, without influence or the need to chase traffic.The journalism, reporting and commentary on SiliconANGLE — along with live, unscripted video from our Silicon Valley studio and globe-trotting video teams at theCUBE — take a lot of hard work, time and money. Keeping the quality high requires the support of sponsors who are aligned with our vision of ad-free journalism content.
If you like the reporting, video interviews and other ad-free content here, please take a moment to check out a sample of the video content supported by our sponsors, tweet your support, and keep coming back to SiliconANGLE.
