Samsung offered $1 billion by Microsoft to produce WP 

Nokia Lumia series of smartphones accounts for 90% of the Windows Phone eco-system. The support from the other manufacturers like HTC, Huawei and Samsung in developing WP powered smartphones has been rather poor, which is a cause of concern for Microsoft.

Having already acquired Nokia, Microsoft is now trying to motivate other global manufacturers to develop Windows Phone OS based smartphones. According to a tweet from Eldar Murtazin, Microsoft has offered an annual sum of $1 billion to Samsung if the Koreans start producing Windows Phone devices.

Another "good" news from Microsoft - company negotiate with Samsung and offer 1 billion support if vendor will produce Windows Phone devices

— Eldar Murtazin (@eldarmurtazin) December 12, 2013

Back in the day Microsoft offered a similar deal to Nokia when they joined forces. As a part of the agreement, Nokia received $250 million every quarter from the Redmond giant as "platform support payments".

Unfortunately, there is no official word at the moment, so take it all with a pinch of salt

source:http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_offered_1_billion_by_microsoft_to_produce_wp_devices-news-7373.php

source:https://twitter.com/eldarmurtazin/statuses/411001284956016640

Apple vs. Samsung

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Recently, Apple brought Samsung to court in the US alleging patent infringement and it ruled in its favor. After the loss abroad, Samsung experienced another loss on home turf - this time in a suit the Korean company itself has filed.

Filed in late 2011, the lawsuit alleged Apple had infringed on Samsung patents related to SMS display and grouping methods. Samsung was seeking a sales ban for the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and even the iPhone 5, which at that time was a year away from announcement.

Although the court sided with Apple, Samsung has stated that it will review the ruling before committing to an appeal. "As Apple has continued to infringe our patented mobile technologies, we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights," said Samsung.

Apple, of course, sees it differently: "We are glad the Korean court joined others around the world in standing up for real innovation and rejecting Samsung's ridiculous claims," said Steve Park, spokesman for Apple Korea.

The same Korean court made a ruling earlier this year that went Samsung's way and Apple was ordered to pay 40 million won ($38,000) for infringing on wireless patents. In the same ruling Samsung was found guilty of infringement too (for the bounce back patent) and was hit with a 25 million won ($24,000).

Those sums are tiny, of course, but Samsung was after an import ban, which would have been a lot harder to swallow for Apple.

source:http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/12/us-samsung-apple-idUSBRE9BB02H20131212
            http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_loses_court_battle_with_apple_in_korea-news-7356.php