Google
is refusing to disclose details of how it intends to circumvent an import ban
imposed on some of its Motorola devices in the US. The International Trade
Commission imposed the restriction after ruling that the firm had infringed one
of Microsoft’s patents. The disputed technology allows users to synchronize
calendar entries across different devices. Google said it had taken “proactive
measures” but would not share details. Microsoft was granted a patent for the
innovation in 2002 and uses it to power its ActiveSync software. It allows a
user to arrange a meeting in their mobile phone’s calendar and then have the
details sent to other invitees via computer servers. Then, if they agree to
attend, the details of the event are then added to their calendars as well. The
feature is popular with business customers. Motorola previously paid a fee to
use Microsoft’s ActiveSync software between 2003 to 2007, but refused to renew
the contract. Google took over Motorola’s consumer device wing earlier this
year. The Windows-maker confirmed the dispute had not been settled by Google
agreeing to sign a new deal. “It’s unfortunate we’ve been forced to pursue
legal action, but the solution for Motorola remains licensing our intellectual
property at market rates as most other Android manufacturers have already
done.” “Microsoft brought this case only after Motorola stopped licensing our
intellectual property but continued to use our inventions in its products,”
said David Howard, Microsoft’s corporate vice president and deputy general
counsel. An alternative step would be for Google to install a version of
Android that removes the synch function from devices named in the lawsuit,
including its Droid X2 handset and Xoom tablet. One company watcher said this
would not be as big a problem as it might seem. “You would expect that if
Google can no longer support the Activesync functions then it would have to
make this clear to shoppers looking for it,” said Carolina Milanesi, vice
president of research at the Gartner tech consultancy. A separate patent
dispute between smartphone makers Apple and HTC earlier in the year led to some
shipments of the latter’s devices being delayed while the agency’s workers
checked their settings had been changed to remove the disputed feature. “But
considering that Android is bigger in the consumer market than the enterprise
market many users may not be interested in the service anyway.” A Google
spokeswoman was unable to elaborate on the situation when contacted by the BBC.
If the firm’s work-around does not satisfy the authorities, its devices could
be blocked by US Customs and Border Protection officials, Bradley Associates
reported.
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