New Details Arrive on Nokia/HTC Microphone Controversy

Yesterday we found out that Nokia had won itself an injunction against the continued use of the high-dynamic-range microphone components it had contracted from STMicroelectronics in the HTC One. At the time, all we knew was that it appeared that STMicroelectronics had overstepped its authority in selling these parts to HTC for use in the One. Now we’re starting to get some more details into just what happened.

Apparently, STMicroelectronics has a twelve-month exclusive contract with Nokia for the part in question, one that was first used in the Lumia 720 – so the microphones in the Lumia 920 must use a different component. While STMicroelectronics was aware that such an arrangement existed, it claims to have misinterpreted the details, believing not only that the period of exclusivity was limited to six months, but that it had already come and gone, rather than starting when the 720 entered production earlier this year.

As such, STMicroelectronics can’t sell the legitimately sell HTC the microphone for another ten months. There won’t be a recall for existing HTC One handsets that have already been produced, but HTC needs to find its own alternative for any future One production runs.

Between the problems HTC’s had securing camera components for the One and now this, we wonder if the phone isn’t earning a bit of a reputation for being cursed.

Source: All About Phones (Google Translate)
Via: WMPoweruser

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Android, HTC, Lumia 720, News, Nokia, One, Windows Phone 8

About The Author

Stephen Schenck

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bits Read more about Stephen Schenck!