Google Defends HTC Against Apple, Fights for Android
http://www.mobiledia.com/news/98920.html
"By standing up for HTC, Schmidt is demonstrating his company's interest in the proceedings, especially since the company relies on handset makers like HTC to make and sell Android-based phones. Google activates 550,000 phones per day, powering a total of 135 million handsets over three years.
A good chunk of the search giant's mobile advertising profits comes from these phones, bringing the company revenue even though it doesn't charge handset makers to use the Android platform.
HTC, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, which all build Android-based phones, have helped the platform claim around 36 percent of the U.S. mobile market share, besting Apple's 27 percent. But rivals like Microsoft or Apple have or are suing all of the above in what some are calling a proxy war on Google, which doesn't own enough patents to protect itself from such legal onslaughts.
Microsoft recently won a ruling against HTC over Android patents, wherein HTC was ordered to pay the company $5 per handset sale. Apple is also embroiled in legal action with Android product maker Samsung. Both are awaiting the ITC's determination on their case, while rumors circulate that Apple may seek another parts-supplier in Taiwanese company TSMC, severing its mutually beneficial relationship with Samsung, which supplies LEDs and chips to Apple.
"The world is a dangerous place to live�not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." �Albert Einstein
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