Samsung to pay Microsoft to use Android: Extortion or partnership?

Microsoft announced a cross-licensing of its patent portfolio with Samsung that will leave Samsung paying a royalty to Microsoft for each smartphone and tablet it sells running Google's Android operating system.

Samsung will also "agreed to cooperate in the development and marketing of Windows Phone." Google, obviously unhappy that the largest seller of Android phones will pay Microsoft to use an operating system Google doesn't charge anyone to use, described the agreements with a patently different word -- extortion. "This is the same tactic we've seen time and again from Microsoft," Google said. "Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others' achievements and hinder the pace of innovation. We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners."