Although recent news suggest that Windows new Mango developments will help put them back into the mobile game, recent news suggest that Android devices may be responsible for a chunky part of the revenues for the company.
An analyst for Citi Walter Pritchard, after a few calculations, has discovered that HTC pays Microsoft $5 for every Android smartphone produced. Asymco reports that HTC shipment figures are around 30 million units which means Microsoft has actually received around $150 million in revenues which adds up to around 5 times what they actually make from their own mobile platform.
The basis of these claims stems from a patent settlement back in 2010 over certain technology present in the Android devices. Of course exact terms for this agreement were never shared with the public however, Pritchard has estimated that Microsoft is actually seeking anywhere from $7.50 to $12.50 per device from other Android manufacturers.
Microsoft is estimated to make around $15 per Windows handset in license fees, and when combined with the recent shipment figures of 2 million a $30 million gain in revenues can be determined. When compared to the gains received from the Android platform it’s easy to determine that these revenues easily shadow those made by Microsoft’s own mobile platform.
Source: Slash Gear, Asymco
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