Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) could make a few significant changes. It was first reported earlier this week that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) wasn’t going to add a multi-user function on their Android phones, because Nokia already had that patent. Apparently, the reverse is true.
Google plans to roll out multi-user features for selected tablet computers and Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) has no plans to intervene, despite the fact they used to own that patent, which they filed for many years ago but never got around to renewing.
One representative for Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) said, “Though we did indeed file the patent application which has been cited in some of the coverage, we determined some time after filing that we would not pursue the application further.”
Google described the following patent, “With support for multiple users, you can give each person their own space. Everyone can have their own homescreen, background, widgets, apps, and games — even individual high scores and levels! And since Android is built with multitasking at its core, it’s a snap to switch between users — no need to log in and out. Available only on tablets.”
Google’s reasoning behind limiting the use of this patent to tablets is most likely because families have replaced traditional computers with a tablet computer. It will also make it easier and more convenient for the entire family to share. No word on when, or if, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will expand their use of the patent to other products.
The Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) patent application was originally described as, “A mobile telephone is designed to be used by several different end-users at different times. A first end-user can alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that first end-user and a subsequent end-user can alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that subsequent end-user; wherein each end-user has only to respond to prompts displayed on a screen, in order to alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that end-user.”
It should be interesting to see where Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) take this patent next.
