A few days ago Apple and HTC settled a longstanding patent dispute that resolved all current lawsuits between them. The duo also signed a 10-year licensing agreement that will allow them to share existing and future patents.
It was certainly a step in the right direction given all of the patent lawsuit non-sense we've seen as of late and many had hoped that other companies would follow suit. But according to at least one major Apple competitor, that simply isn't going to happen.
During a media appearance in Seoul, Samsung mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun said it was true that HTC agreed to pay Apple (referring to the $267 million they agreed to give Cupertino) but Samsung has no plans at all to negotiate a similar deal - or one at all. As part of the long-tem deal, most believe HTC will be paying $6 to $8 per phone which could very easily come out to around $180 million to $280 million per year.
It's the latest in the seemingly never ending battle between the fierce rivals and it shows just how far apart the two companies are. Business is still business, however, and Apple has relied on the Korean electronics giant as a parts supplier and manufacturer for some time.
Those business ties are quickly fading as evident by today's news, however. In fact, just last month a senior Samsung official told the Korea Times that Apple had told them they will no longer use their technology and components in the future.