RIM talks patent win effect on others and QNX

RIM as part of the call discussing its summer results discussed its view on how it would use its share of Nortel patents bought alongside Apple. While silent on how much exact control it had, the BlackBerry creator saw it as equal opportunities. RIM could find ways to "monetize" its involvement in the patents as well as provide "assurance" against attacks, co-CEO Mike Lazaridis explained.

The $4.5 billion patent win, which also included Microsoft, Sony, and others in the joint bid, was interpreted by many as an attempt to slow down Google by giving the bidders a trove of patents they could use to sue Android phone makers. Google justified its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola as a defense against companies it thought were slowing down innovation.

Along with the purchase, talk during the call swung to the long-term expectations for phones using the QNX roots of the PlayBook. Phones were already in testing, and a developer kit was expected to show at BlackBerry DevCon in October.

RIM wouldn't mention the details of the hardware, so far known as the BlackBerry Colt. Early devices would only be focused on the high-end, however: it was a "good summary" to assume that most BlackBerry phones would still be using BlackBerry 7 a year from now.

By Electronista Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :  

patents, sony, industry, Microsoft, Google, Android, BlackBerry, RIM, lawsuits, mobile phones, Apple, QNX