LG Electronics today said it had signed a long-term cross-licence deal with Google as the South Korean firm tries to expand its smartphone business.
The deal covers patents on a “broad range of products and technologies” that already exist and will be filed in the next 10 years, the two firms said in a joint statement.
Samsung — LG’s home rival and the world’s top smartphone maker — earlier struck a similar deal with Google in January.
“LG values its relationship with Google, and this agreement underscores both companies’ commitment to developing new products and technologies that enhance consumers’ lives,” said J H Lee, Executive Vice-President and head of LG’s intellectual property centre.
Almost all of LG’s popular smartphones, tablet computers and smartwatches are powered by Android software made by the US tech giant.
LG — currently the world’s fourth-largest smartphone maker — struggled for years with sluggish sales after making a late entry into the market.
But it recently showed signs of revival with its flagship G3 smartphones, while its bigger rival Samsung saw profits sag.
LG earlier reported an 87-per cent jump in third-quarter net profit as the previously loss-making handset unit saw profits surge in a big turnaround.
