Day: February 23, 2012

Microsoft today filed a competition law complaint against Motorola Mobility with the European Commission, claiming that the company—and, by extension, its soon-to-be-owner Google—is charging outrageously high licensing fees for patents essential to complying with industry standards.

In a blog post titled “Google, Please Don’t Kill Video on the Web,” Microsoft general counsel Dave Heiner said Motorola “is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products” by charging unusually high fees for patents related to the H.264 video standard. On a $1,000 laptop, Motorola wants a royalty of $22.50, Microsoft claims. Microsoft said its complaint, which is not a publicly available document, is filed against both Motorola and Google.

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from Ars Technica

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

If you’re still driving that 2006 Ford Fusion you bought new, apparently you are not alone. Automotive data provider Polk says that the average new car buyer is now holding on to his vehicle for a whopping 71 months – almost six years. Used vehicles are being held for over four years, almost 50 months, according to the new study.

Polk based its findings on vehicle registration data through September 2011, concluding that longer warranties, better reliability, and of course, a miserable economy, have contributed to the shift. By comparison, just five years ago Polk showed new car buyers swapping out after just 53 months – a year and a half earlier.

This latest study reflects what we heard from Polk last month, that the average age of vehicles on the road has hit a record high. We might even see consumers further stretch this number, as Polk’s analysts are not forecasting a return to the magic 16-million-units sales level until 2015. For the carmakers this represents more than just a simple make-your-numbers sales challenge, says Polk, because the longer people keep their vehicles the less brand loyal they become.

To read the full release, click through the jump.

Continue reading Buyers holding onto new cars for nearly six years – longer than ever before

Buyers holding onto new cars for nearly six years – longer than ever before originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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