Yesterday we learnt that HTC and Apple have come to some sort of agreement with regards to their patents. This is especially surprising considering how Apple would not do the same with Samsung. The HTC settlement included a 10-year license agreement that allows HTC to use previously Apple-patented software features. This includes the notorious slide to unlock.
Of course nothing is free in this world. The HTC settlement clearly gives HTC a breathing air. But what does it give Apple? According to Analyst Shaw Wu with Sterne Agee, Apple is likely to get around $6-8 as licensing fee. HTC is expected to sell around 30 million smartphones in 2013 which means this HTC settlement will earn Apple close to $180 million. HTC is already paying Microsoft $15 per every Android smartphone sold for another licensing agreement.
With this matter settled, it will be interesting to see how Apple pursues its case against Samsung and Motorola. $8 per handset isn’t going to net Apple a lot in cash considering it has over a $100 billion in the kitty currently. With bigger fish like Samsung and Motorola, Apple will most probably look to get a much more sizeable amount per handset. That is of course if we ever reach an agreement stage.