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SEC filing by Nokia hints at the possibility of a Microsoft Surface phone
076 days
by J
We last heard about a possible Microsoft Surface phone around the time the Surface tablet was released, but there was no indication at the time that this smartphone would ever see the light of day. Guess who does think a Surface phone may make its way to consumers soon – Nokia! Yes, the same Nokia that decided to go all-in with the Windows Phone OS, is now worried that Microsoft may be working on a smartphone of its own, or may even ditch Windows Phone entirely.
A recent law-mandated risk filing with the SEC by Nokia, which was dug up by ZDNet, states that Nokia is worried that
“Microsoft may broaden its strategy to sell other mobile devices under its own brand, including smartphones. This could lead Microsoft to focus more on their own devices and less on mobile devices of other manufacturers that operate on the Windows Phone platform, including Nokia.”
Such filings are legally required by the SEC to list out possible business risks to allow investors to make informed decisions. In the similar filing from 2011, Nokia acknowledged the risk of moving from Symbian to Windows Phone. Now, in the latest filing, Nokia says that the risk comes from the possibility that Microsoft may reduce their investment in the OS, or shut it down completely.
The possibility of a Surface arises again in the filing, with Nokia stating that a deteriorating relationship could occur with Microsoft, possible because of influences by other device manufacturers, or if Microsoft decides to build its own hardware, or even move away from the mobile game altogether, leaving Nokia stranded.
Granted, such filings list ALL perceived risks that could occur in a business relationship, but the continuous mention of a Microsoft-made Windows Phone has peaked our interest. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop staid last year that a Surface Phone would be good to stimulate the Windows Phone ecosystem, but obviously made that statement without considering how such a device would affect the company he heads.
Now that the risks have been laid out, how do you think Nokia will react if a Surface phone does become a reality? Is it finally time for Nokia to make a shift to Android? Do you think the disappointing sales of Windows Phone devices will lead to Microsoft giving up on the OS entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The post SEC filing by Nokia hints at the possibility of a Microsoft Surface phone appeared first on Android Authority.
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Nokia sides with Apple on injunction case against Samsung
078 days
by J
“You’ve got a friend in me,” Nokia seems to be telling Apple when it filed its amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in support for Apple’s patent claim against Samsung, in particular Apple’s bid for permanent injunction against certain Samsung devices.
According to Judge Lucy Koh, who ruled on the Apple vs. Samsung case, Apple failed to “link any harm it suffers directly to Samsung’s infringement” on a patent-by-patent basis. As such, the burden would have been on Apple to prove that customers specifically buy the infringing products — in this case, Samsung smartphones — specifically because of the features allegedly in infringement of Apple’s patents.
In its brief, Nokia argued that Judge Koh erred in her ruling that Apple needs to establish a “casual nexus” between its patented features and the demand for its phones before an injunction could be granted. This could set a dangerous precedent and “could cause wide-ranging damage to the United States patent protection landscape,” Nokia argued.
The deadline for amicus filings was actually set for February 19, but Nokia requested for a 14-day extension, which was granted. According to Reuters, no other company had submitted their briefs in support of Apple’s case. Meanwhile, Samsung’s brief is not due for a few weeks, and supporting firms can submit their amici briefs afterwards.
But why the support? Recall that Nokia, at one point, had also been embroiled in bitter patent battles against several companies — sometimes as plaintiff and sometimes as defendant. This includes Apple, but Nokia had a cross-licensing deal with Apple sometime in 2011, with both companies exchanging licenses for each other’s patented technologies. “Nokia is thus both a significant patent owner that might seek an injunction to protect its patent rights, and a manufacturer in an industry in which patent owners routinely issue threats of injunctions for patent infringement,” writes Keith Broyles, attorney for the Finnish company.
Are Nokia and Apple strange bedfellows? Not exactly, as the two companies already have a mutually-beneficial deal, in which Nokia has received cash for each iPhone sold, and continues to receive royalties. When it comes down to this, would other Android manufacturers likewise express support for Samsung through filing an amicus brief in the Korean firm’s favor? Or has Samsung grown too big for its own good and that of the Android ecosystem that other brands are also wary of giving their support?
The post Nokia sides with Apple on injunction case against Samsung appeared first on Android Authority.
