Microsoft executives call Android a legal risk

The legal risks associated with Google's Android operating system mean that it should not be considered a "free" software, Tivanka Elavala Tivanka Ellawala, Chief financial officer at Microsoft's Mobile communications business unit, said in Thursday.

Elavala's comments come at a time when Android's share of the smartphone software market is booming. At Deutsche Bank's technical meeting, "Does Android's free, open source model cause problems for software vendors such as Microsoft that charge license fees?" ", Elavala points out that Google has been sued for infringement of intellectual property rights by Android," Android infringes a number of patents, which can cost a certain amount, so it's not free. "

Oracle sued Google last month, claiming that Android violated the company's patents on Java software. Google claims that Oracle's indictment is "not factual".

As an Open-source software, Android is open to developers and is available to handset makers for free. Microsoft collects license fees from vendors who use their mobile software. Microsoft plans to release Windows Phone 7 software later this year.

The latest figures from the market research firm comscore show that Android's smartphone market share is about 17%, and Microsoft is about 11.8%.

Elavala points out that the quality of Microsoft's mobile software is more than Android, meaning that handset makers are willing to pay license fees, "mobile software is an important part of Microsoft's business."