Apple and Google settle patent row

Mobile phone industry giants Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss lawsuits they had brought against each other over technology patents. In a joint statement, the companies said they would work together in "some areas of patent reform". But the deal did not include licensing their technology to each other. Apple and firms that make phones using Android software earlier filed dozens of lawsuits against one another.
 
Earlier this month, a jury in California ordered South Korea’s Samsung firm to pay Apple $119.6m (£71m) for for infringing two of its patents. The court also ruled that Apple infringed Samsung’s patents and awarded $158,000 in damages. Android software is now installed on some 80% of new phones sold every year.