Microsoft will make $444 million this year in Android licensing fees

[Larry-G]

Microsoft will bring in an estimated $444 million this year from extorting Android manufacturers, says Goldman Sachs, bringing in $3-6 per mobile device sold.
Android has a 40 percent global market share, while Microsoft's own Windows Phone 7 is only expected to take 4 percent.

For now, manufacturers pay $11 to license Windows Phone 7 so Microsoft will make significantly less money from their own platform than they will from Android, which they had no part in creating.

Continues the Goldman analyst:

Despite the royalties Microsoft is demanding for alleged patent infringement, we see its legal battles as playing a lesser role in its overall mobile strategy as compared to its desire to strengthen the ecosystem for Windows Phone going forward.



HTC pays Microsoft $5 per device, and Velocity Micro, General Dynamics Itronix, Wistron, Acer, ViewSonic and Samsung have all signed similar licensing deals.

Microsoft is the only notable hold out in the Android camp.

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/09/30/microsoft_will_make_444_million_this_year_in_android_licensing_fees