Written by Google is backing its smartphone manufacturer HTC after Apple announced that they would be suing the company for patent infringement.
The move by Google sets the stage for a massive showdown in the smartphone market between web giants Google and iPhone producer Apple, who formerly worked closely together.
Apple have accused HTC of 20 hardware and software infringements, which are all related to the “user interface, underlying architecture and hardware” of the iPhone. The lawsuit cites the Nexus One, which is a Google branded Smartphone which was launched in January.
Along with the Nexus One, several other new touchscreen smartphones made by HTC, as well as other companies, all use the free Android operating system which was developed by Google.
Android phones are currently the biggest threat to the iPhone which currently dominates the smartphone market, having sold 40 million of them since they were released in 2007. The Nexus One was hailed to be the first phone that would be able to match the offerings of the iPhone and so represents a big commercial threat to Apple.
Google have not yet released an official statement but a representative said: “We are not a party to this lawsuit” “However, we stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it.”
Analysts have speculated that the Apple lawsuit is really aimed as a warning to Google:”I think this is kind of an indirect lawsuit against Google,” said Shaw Wu, a Kaufman Bros analyst.
HTC has also released a statement about the impending lawsuit: “HTC is not only an innovator in mobile technology but also an owner of many patents. We take American and international patent rights protection seriously. We will closely cooperate with US justice system in the case to protect our own innovative values and rights.”
