How Much Longer is Motorola’s Shelf Life in the United States?

A while back I brought you information about a potential ban on Motorola devices here in the United States. It is with a heavy heart and much displeasure that I have to announce said ban officially begins today.

Motorola Mobility intends to make sure that their Android devices continue to be available to US customers, but have not disclosed exactly how they intend to make it happen.

The ban is due to an infringement upon a Microsoft patent and the ITC has ruled that 18 of Motorola’s devices have infringed the patent, which relates to Exchange Active Sync. The 60-day presidential review period is now over and Moto’s clock has run out. Have a look at the full list of devices affected by the ban below:

• Atrix
• Backflip
• Bravo
• Charm
• Cliq
• Cliq
• Cliq XT
• Defy
• Devour
• Droid 2
• Droid 2 Global
• Droid Pro
• Droid X
• Droid X2
• Flipout
• Flipside
• Spice
• Xoom

Motorola’s options are to either pay Microsoft license fees for ActiveSync technology, remove the feature that is the cause of concern, or provide a software update that takes another route at handling the same functionality. No word yet on what option will be chosen, but I’m sure Motorola isn’t just going to roll over and play dead while Microsoft takes them to the cleaners.

Theres is also no word on whether Motorola will still try to have its devices imported into the United States after Wednesday. There is a likelihood that enough devices have been pre-stockpiled to continue to supply demand without relying on importing. A bond of 33 cents for every device imported since I last reported was mandated to be paid by Motorola during the review period.

The 18 devices listed are not the only ones limited to the ban. Any device found that infringes upon the patent will be covered in the ban up until April 10, 2018. Microsoft and Motorola have an ongoing feud, and Motorola is setting its sights on securing a ban on the Xbox 360 (when will the mud-slinging ever end?).

Currently, Microsoft collects royalties on 70 Android smartphones in the US and Motorola is the only manufacture defying Microsoft in this aspect. With Motorola stating that it intends to maintain device availability we will just have to wait and see how they will comply with the ITC, and if they will be able to come to some compromise with Microsoft.

Via: BGR