Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS

[MacRumors]

As noted by Mac Otakara, Japanese firm ACCESS today announced [Google translation] that Apple has agreed to license a set of patents related to Palm's smartphone technology. ACCESS acquired the patents when it purchased PalmSource in 2005.

ACCESS notes that the portfolio of patents, which was licensed to Samsung in 2011, includes intellectual property from Palm, PalmSource, Bell Communications Research, and Geoworks.

The press release from ACCESS indicates that it will record roughly 1 billion yen ($10 million) in revenue for the quarter as part of the deal, which closed on March 31. ACCESS will evaluate the impact of the deal on the following quarter and full fiscal year and will revise its earnings forecast appropriately.

Article Link: Apple Pays at Least $10 Million to License Palm-Related Patents From ACCESS

 

[Tankmaze]

doesn't specifically said what kind of patent apple is buying, which makes me curious.

but 10 million dollar for the patent must be an important one.

 

[nicmr]

doesn't specifically said what kind of patent apple is buying, which makes me curious.

but 10 million dollar for the patent must be an important one.

There's a portfolio of patents.

 

[spazzcat]

doesn't specifically said what kind of patent apple is buying, which makes me curious.

but 10 million dollar for the patent must be an important one.

They are not even buying they are licensing for that amount.

 

[daneoni]

They are not even buying they are licensing for that amount.

Better $10m now than $100m later.

 

[nazaar]

iOS 7?

 

[firewood]

Palm developed the first popular handheld tablets and smartphones that sold millions of devices, years before the iPhone (but after the Newton). Thus Palm patented tons of stuff in that area.

Lots of mobile app developers started out doing apps for PalmOS. PilotGear/PalmGear was the big app Store.

 

[jonAppleSeed]

Apple should just buy them, then revoke the licenses from Samsung.

 

[IzzyJG99]

Remember when this was awesome?

I kind of miss palm. I still have my Tungsten E.

 

[dysamoria]

I'd love to know which patents. The BeOS stuff is also among Access' stuff...

 

[typeadam]

Remember when this was awesome?

Image

I kind of miss palm. I still have my Tungsten E.

Definitely miss them! My Tungsten was awesome but my Sony Clies were always a bit sketchy though. But my Treos with PalmOS were brilliant! Had several models through the years and they all were excellent - and all had great battery life!

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Apple should just buy them, then revoke the licenses from Samsung.

Awesome.

 

[DaveMcM76]

I kind of miss palm. I still have my Tungsten E.

I loved my palms... started with a IIIe, moved on to a Vx and I've still got my T|X somewhere although sadly while the device itself should still work the charger (and thus the battery) both died several years ago...

 

[coder12]

Remember when this was awesome?

Image

I kind of miss palm. I still have my Tungsten E.

That thing still is awesome. I still use my Tapwave Zodiac to play some games (mainly LJP) and Zire 72S (though not so much my Zire anymore).

 

[davidg4781]

Graffiti?

 

[demodave]

Remember when this was awesome?

Image

I kind of miss palm. I still have my Tungsten E.

*sigh* My last Palm was a Treo 650. I was so excited back then. It just never cut it for me in practice. Oh well. At least I have an iPhone now.

<no stalgia>

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Palm developed the first popular handheld tablets and smartphones that sold millions of devices, years before the iPhone (but after the Newton). Thus Palm patented tons of stuff in that area.

Lots of mobile app developers started out doing apps for PalmOS. PilotGear/PalmGear was the big app Store.

But *after* the Newton, which is of such tremendous significance in my view that it is painful that it is overlooked. When I first read the main article I was like "why doesn't Apple just *buy* the flipping company?!?"

 

[davidg4781]

When I first read the main article I was like "why doesn't Apple just *buy* the flipping company?!?"

I'm guessing there might be some anti-competitive issue or something like that, especially if other companies are currently licensing the patents.

I'm really curious what they are. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything my old Palms could do that I would really want back.

I did like my BlackBerry Curve's auto dimming.