Microsoft Brings Its Office Apps to Asus Android Smartphones and Tablets

Asus will pre-install unspecified Microsoft “productivity services” on its Android-based smartphones and tablets. With Microsoft apparently already making billions of dollars each year from licensing agreements it has in place with Android OEMs, it’s safe to say the strategy is helping them make bank.

In a statement, both the firms said that the deal was the expansion of the earlier patent licensing agreement between the two companies that covers ASUS-made Android phones and Microsoft’s Software and services.

ASUS, along with Google, was also sued for patent infringement back in 2013 by Rockstar patent consortium, which was owned by Microsoft, Apple, Sony, and Blackberry Ericcson. For Microsoft, it definitely extends the reach of their products and getting your software on a users device is a huge advantage to lock them into your ecosystem. Interestingly, a similar deal appears to have happened with Samsung which settled with Microsoft and subsequently began bundling Office as well. Outside of strengthening current product offerings, the deal also brings Microsoft and ASUS closer to one another.

On October 1, Microsoft announced it had signed an “expanded” patent-licensing deal with ASUSTek Computer Inc.

A Microsoft rep said there was a pre-existing patent agreement between the two companies that was never made public but which did not involve Android. Microsoft Office has long since enjoyed the title of a dominant software for all your Office needs; this move will further cement its position at the top.

On Thursday, Microsoft and Google announced a blanket settlement of 20 outstanding patent lawsuits.