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April 30, 2014

Several Foxconn Patents on Communications Technology Sold to Google

The battle for supremacy in the mobile marketplace continues between Apple and Google, and it appears that one of Apple's contracted manufacturers has sold several patents in the communication technology field to Google. Foxconn is famous for manufacturing Apple's iPhones and also lent their expertise in assembling Sony's Playstation game consoles, but the manufacturer has also been developing technology of their own. Now, it appears that the company is looking to sell some of those technologies themselves.

Renowned technology manufacturer Foxconn is officially known as the Hon Hai Precision Industry Company, and is based in Taiwan. Despite controversy throughout their many years of manufacturing, Foxconn has developed several new technologies and now boast an extensive portfolio that boasts over 128,400 patent requests. Of those requests, 64,300 of them have been granted their patent status in countries around the world, including the United States of America..

The specific number of patents sold to Google has not been officially stated, but it has been confirmed that all of the patents have to do with communications technology. The sum of the transaction has also not been disclosed. It is expected that Google will add these technologies to the already formidable portfolio of patents from their acquisition of Motorola Mobility in 2011.

Last year, Foxconn had also sold some head-mounted display technology patents to Google last year for another unspecified amount, which could be a sign that the two companies are growing closer together. Most likely, Foxconn will take advantage of their massive patent portfolio in both the U.S. and from around the globe to offer commercial licenses to their customers. Foxconn could even beat out their competitors by offering patent licenses integrated with manufacturing contracts, a unique service that Foxconn could even charge a substantial premium for.




Edited by Stefania Viscusi


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