Apple/Samsung: Now We Know the Real Cost of “Free”

It may take years for Apple to actually get its money from Samsung, but Apple’s victory is challenging the notion that Android is free. Carriers and handset manufacturers are considering alternatives. Should you as well?

Apple’s $1.05 billion victory in its patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung has generated hysterical prognostications from virtually every quarter on what this means and who other potential winners are. The judgement has also generated massive amounts of mis- and disinformation, but very little meaningful conversation about what you should do about this. Apple proponents would have you believe this judgement is a sweeping indictment of Android although the truth is that Android itself gets away largely scot-free.

The judgment pertained largely to hardware design elements. If, however, you take this to mean that Google was actually vindicated and that Android is safe, you’re also misreading the situation.

Although Apple’s victory was predicated on design elements, do you think the real target wasn’t Android and those who believed Android was free, and safe? Or, more broadly, any platform against which Apple competes? Enterprise users need not be concerned by this outcome. To the extent Apple succeeds in damaging Android and conceivably therefore increasing the attractiveness of Windows Phone; however, Apple’s victory only heightens the challenges regarding platform diversity and may accelerate user adoption of yet another platform in your environment.