Microsoft collects license fees on 50% of Android devices, tells Google to "wake up" [Ars Technica]

This will be small comfort to Microsoft, if Windows Phone continues to flounder

According to charts in the blog post, 55 percent of Android devices by worldwide revenue are subject to patent license agreements between Microsoft and original design manufacturers, such as Compal. Moreover, 53 percent of Android smartphones by unit share in the United States are subject to patent license agreements between Microsoft and original equipment manufacturers, such as Samsung and HTC.

In any case, it’s a lot. Some have concluded that Microsoft makes more money from Android than from its own Windows Phones, and HTC reportedly pays Microsoft $5 for each Android phone it sells. Google, meanwhile, distributes Android (at least the smartphone version) as open source software.

Microsoft collects license fees on 50% of Android devices, tells Google to "wake up"