Microsoft demanding royalties from Android vendor Huawei

Microsoft is yet again said to be in talks to sign up another Android vendor in a cross licensing agreement, this time demanding royalties from Chinese-based manufacturer Huawei. According to a report from The Guardian, CMO for Huawei Devices, Victor Xu, has confirmed “negotiations are in progress”:

“Yes, Microsoft has come to us…We always respect the intellectual property of companies. But we have 65,000 patents worldwide too. We have enough to protect our interests. We are a very important stakeholder in Android.”

This is far from Microsoft’s first attempt to collect royalties based on claims of patent infringement related to Android. The company is already expected to take in an estimated $444 million from license agreements with Android backers alone during fiscal 2012.  HTC is already coughing up a $5 royalty per device, Samsung is signed up, and other vendors including ViewSonic, Acer, GDI, and Compal Electronics add to deals with well over ten manufacturers. Last we heard, the new Android-powered Kindle Fire may be Microsoft’s next target.

Despite the inevitable license agreement, Xu is positive Huawei can continue to grow and even become one of the top smartphone makers within five years:

“Over the next three years we are aiming to be in the top five smartphone makers, and in the top three in the next five years… We have established very aggressive targets in the market.”