Microsoft and Samsung have partnered to bring cross-licensing of each company’s patent portfolios for use in mobile device development. Microsoft is making every effort to ensure Windows Phone 7 is successful in the marketplace. Here’s a breakdown on the latest mobile moves …

Under the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties for Android-based Samsung tablets and mobiles (ouch) while working closely with Samsung to help develop new Windows Phone technologies that aren’t boring and uninspired. It seems as though Microsoft is really getting the upper hand here, but Samsung’s ability to create unique mobile devices running Windows Phone 7 could be what both companies need to capture more market share while simultaneously pulling Samsung out of some Android-device copyright trouble with Apple it’s currently embroiled in. Although Nokia soon will be the Windows Phone 7 champion, Nokia alone is definitely not enough for Windows Phone 7 to proliferate. Microsoft’s moves are certainly aggressive.

But the bigger story here is the patents, which have literally become the weapons of the mobile wars. It’s no surprise Google scooped up Motorola Mobility; Motorola’s patent portfolio has been invaluable to defending and building out the Android platform, and shortly after Motorola’s acquisition, Google proved this by backing HTC with those patents.

But the most important item to note here is that amid the Android and Windows Phone 7 competition and growth, Apple is still competing against all of these companies with iOS alone. Keep a watch on the growth of OEM and vendor patent alliances — things are about to get a lot more interesting when patents essentially exist in giant pools available for use depending on which mobile team a company is on.

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