Samsung to Contest Apple Over 4G LTE Patents

• Samsung owns 10% patents related to LTE 
• A countersuit will coincide new iPhone launch
• May strike a win with LTE patents

After losing in a design-related patent dispute with Apple in the U.S. last month, Samsung is hinting that it is not the type who will easily give up the battle.

• Samsung owns 10% patents related to LTE 
• A countersuit will coincide new iPhone launch
• May strike a win with LTE patents

After losing in a design-related patent dispute with Apple in the U.S. last month, Samsung is hinting that it is not the type who will easily give up the battle. The next phase of its challenge is to prove that it is an innovator nonetheless – well, at least, in the arena of fourth-generation connectivity platforms or 4G technology.

Samsung may have noticed that Apple has evidently showed some interest in LTE with its inclusion in the new iPad with retina display. Reports, however, are indicating that the Korean electronics maker is now readying its case with the advent of the next iPhone if it will feature 4G LTE.

Pundits are claiming the reason may be because the iPhone is the product where Apple can cash in more than the iPad. The blow will be big against Apple if this will be Samsung’s target.

Both Samsung and Apple have respective patents over these technologies but Samsung commands over 9% of patents related to LTE and Mobile Wimax platforms. Apple owns only up to 318 or 5% of the total LTE patents.

Observers are betting that the real winner between Apple and Samsung could be someone who owns patents that are relative to platforms where modern devices are based.

For users to maximise their use of their smartphones and connectivity-dependent devices, there must be a platform available on their devices that can support the web browsing and application features. It is here where LTE technologies come helpful.

Sung-Young Kim of the University of Auckland wrote in theconversation.edu.au that this may be because for companies who develop 4G-compatible products must also have the foundational support.

Minus the patents over the required platform, any company making these gadgets will be required to pay the royalties to the owners of those patents. “So the potential benefits of controlling the underlying technological infrastructure are enormous,” added Sung-Young.

It is being touted that Samsung’s portfolio of 4G-related patents may be holding the key to bigger opportunities can be seized along the lines of future platforms, such as the forthcoming fifth-generation (5G) technologies.