Samsung makes a plethora of Android devices each year, devices that cater to high-end, mid-range and low-end markets. However, it doesn’t make as many Windows Phone devices. Microsoft certainly wants its mobile platform to flourish, and for that it needs to get major OEMs on board. It recently acquired the devices and services division of its biggest OEM, Nokia. While Samsung won’t be selling its hardware division any time soon, rumor has it that Microsoft is offering $1 billion in support to the company if it continues to make Windows Phone devices.
A deal of this nature isn’t unusual. Prior to its acquisition of Nokia’s division, Microsoft was paying the Finnish manufacturer $250 million per quarter in “platform support payments,” but it got money back as well since Nokia was paying it to license Windows Phone. However the deal might sound feasible to Samsung given the fact that it is being rumored that Microsoft is considering waiving Windows Phone licensing fees for OEMs altogether. There’s no official confirmation from either company that $1 billion is going to change hands, the rumor has spread through well known mobile blogger Eldar Murtazin, who is known to have connections. Though since nothing is official yet, its best to take this rumor with a grain of salt.
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