Microsoft and Kyocera quietly squash patent beef

Microsoft can cross out another patent dispute in its list, now that it has settled its issue with Kyocera. Redmond filed a lawsuit against the Japanese electronics maker back in March, claiming that the latter's Android phones infringe upon seven patents it owns, including their messaging and location tracking features. Several Android device manufacturers, such as HTC, ZTE and LG, have been paying Microsoft royalties to use its patents for quite some time. It's unclear if money will change hands when it comes to this particular deal, though, since its announcement only talked about signing "an agreement expanding" an older one. The two have apparently signed a cross-patent license after making peace, allowing them to use each other's technologies in their own devices.