Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

News

Growth in royalty payments by mobile device manufacturers is starting to slow

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

​Total royalty payments for GSM, WCDMA and LTE technology on mobile phones are approaching $20 billion (£13 billion) per year, according to a new report from ABI Research. It says the amount paid in licensing fees by manufacturers will continue to grow for the next few years but is starting to flatten out. For example, the growth of 3G means that GSM handset royalties are already playing a much less significant role for royalty revenues.

ABI Research has calculated that vendors pay anything from less than 4% (if they have a very strong patent portfolio with bilateral agreements) to well into the teens for GSM/WCDMA handsets. The average fluctuates between approximately seven and eight per cent.

Philip Solis, research director for mobile networks at ABI Research, said “WWAN royalties on handsets are a significant source of revenue for companies holding the largest amount of essential patents. In addition to being a source of revenue for companies, patents are being used more aggressively for offense and defense against competitors.”

[Report]

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (0)
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

Whatever happened to all my tech?

ExclusiveWhatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.

ExclusivePredictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

ExclusiveKapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

RSS
12345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

ExclusiveMotorola reveals the Moto X, O2 readies its 4G and the UK government cures black spots

The Motorola Moto X smartphone opens this week's show, despite not having a European release... but there's plenty of other UK news.

We talk about O2's plans to launch 4G mobile services later this month, we look at the ASA's ruling against EE, we contemplate the government's plans to eliminate some mobile 'black spots', we wonder when Android's market share will start to shrink - and we discuss many other mobile telecom stories as well.

ExclusiveInterview with Ruth Barnett of SwiftKey

James Rosewell interviews Ruth Barnett, head of communications at British-based technology company SwiftKey.

As well as talking about the SwiftKey keyboard app they also discuss competition in the mobile application space, working with manufacturers and the opportunities presented by 'Bring Your Own Device' schemes.

RSS
First1415161719212223Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«June 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
25262728293031
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293012345

Archive