Microsoft had signed a multiyear patent cross-licensing agreement with Casio to use Linux in certain Casio devices, back in 2011. Now it has signed a new deal with the company to share its wearable patents. “The patent licensing agreement includes broad coverage for smartwatch technologies, ” said Microsoft without giving any other details.
Casio has WSD-F10 and WSD-F20 Android Wear smart outdoor watches. For its future smartwatches Casio could make use of Microsoft patents to help improve its hardware.
Micky Minhas, head of Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, said:
Casio’s smartwatches combined with Microsoft’s technology will help customers all over the world achieve more from their wearables. This is an outstanding partnership that builds on Microsoft’s heritage of innovation in the technology powering personal wearables to boost Casio’s best-in-class products in this space.
Hiroshi Okumura, general manager of Intellectual Property & Legal Department of Casio, said:
Casio is committed to creating innovative products for all our customers, and this partnership builds on our longstanding relationship with Microsoft that’s covered products and solutions ranging from industrial handheld terminals to business information systems.