Apple win pleases Microsoft

Apple's decisive triumph over Samsung Electronics in the most closely watched patent trial in years could open the door for Microsoft to finally hop on board the mobile boom as manufacturers of Android-based smartphones and tablets weigh their legal risks.

Microsoft sounded a challenge to Apple and Samsung last month when it took the wraps off its Surface tablet, a showcase for the revamped Windows software that it hopes will pave the way for its entry into the mobile space.

It remains to be seen if the new touchscreen-friendly and cloud computing-ready Windows8 will be a serious rival to Android, the world's most-used mobile software, or Apple's iOS.

But mobile industry executives who had been cautiously considering Windows as an alternative to Google's Android say Friday's ruling that Samsung had copied Apple's designs and software features had intensified their interest in a Microsoft alternative.

The key reason: fear of patent lawsuits brought by Apple.

The California company's battle with Samsung was in large measure a proxy war against Google's Android software, which is used by many manufacturers to run their mobile devices. The verdict could encourage Apple to file more such lawsuits.

"Some of the other manufacturers of Android products, like ourselves, are prepared to face similar lawsuits brought by Apple," a senior executive with a major Chinese mobile-maker said on condition of anonymity.

"The Apple-Samsung lawsuit has given us some reference point on our future innovation. We'll focus on developing our own unique user interface based on the Android platform."

He predicted that the percentage of Windows-based smartphone shipments would increase significantly, from less than 10% now to around a third over the next few years.

Windows8 and WindowsRT - a version of the software made for the ARM Holdings chip designs that are employed in the vast majority of phones and tablets - ship in October.

And so far the market has found that consumers want phones and tablets that look like Apple devices, he added.

Wall Street thinks Microsoft still stands a chance of reclaiming its former glory, with investors citing a promising product pipeline for next year.

But they will want hard reasons to pay more than $30 (R251) for a stock that has not traded above that price for an extended period since 2000.

TheApple-Samsung verdict was closely watched at Microsoft.

"Windows Phone is looking gooooood right now," tweeted a clearly enthusiastic Bill Cox, senior marketing communications director for the firm's phone division, soon after the verdict.