Looking a little deeper into the agreement between HTC and Apple, it appears that Apple is getting the better end of this deal.
Shaw Wu, an analyst with Sterne Agee, has talked to industry analysts and been informed that Apple will likely receive between $6 to $8 from HTC for every smartphone shipped in 2013. Wu estimates that around 30 to 35 million units will be shipped, bringing Apple somewhere in the neighborhood of $180 million to $280 million in licensing fee revenue. A Wall Street Journal source confirms Wu’s statements and added that HTC executives initiated the deal and are relived that the legal battles with Apple have been successfully resolved.
Shaw Wu also believes that this agreement with HTC will create a “blueprint” that Apple can use to bring settlements with other competitors such as Samsung and Motorola. He stated:
We think it is fair that Apple will get some licensing revenue for the intellectual property it has developed (in particular multitouch gestures) in making the modern smart phone and tablet with touch screens. Prior to the iPhone and iPad, there were arguably no products that were close in functionality and appearance.
Do you think HTC made the right choice in approaching Apple to settle all these patent disputes? Tell us your thoughts below.
Source: CNet
I’m not a great fan of Apple (says he whilst tapping on his iPad keyboard), but at the end of the day ,as the old saying goes “If you can’t beat them, join them”. HTC could be seen as backing down, but I can see their argument. They might have stood to lose much more revenue by taking Apple on head to head in the American courts. (Where,in my opinion,money takes precedence over law). Good luck to HTC……..