Nokia's Patent Restricts Android Multiple User Account Switching To Tablets?
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Yesterday, Google announced a new feature in Android 4.2 called Multi-user switching which Windows RT tablets will also have. Being a mobile OS, Android has this only for tablet devices and not for mobile phones.
With support for multiple users, you can give each person their own space. Everyone can have their own homescreen, background, widgets, apps and games – even individual high scores and levels! And since Android is built with multitasking at its core, it’s a snap to switch between users – no need to log in and out. Available only on tablets.
According to TC, the reason Google avoided this feature into mobile phones may be because of a patent owned by Nokia.
From Nokia’s patent,
A mobile telephone is designed to be used by several different end-users at different times. A first end-user can alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that first end-user and a subsequent end-user can alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that subsequent end-user; each end-user has only to respond to prompts displayed on a screen in order to alter the mobile telephone so that it operates in a manner specific to that end-user.
We are all well aware of the fact that Nokia has an impressive patent portfolio and even Apple licensed them by paying royalties last year. Google, you better do it!
Source: TC
