Chinese Huawei in Android patent talks with Microsoft

China's leading telecom company Huawei has confirmed that it is in talks with Microsoft over the use of Android software.
 
Huawei Device's chief marketing officer, Victor Xu, said the discussions are "in progress".
 
He also revealed that the firm plans to open a new design centre in London, and would expand to expand into the US, Japan and India next year, and then other parts of the world in 2013.

"Over the next three years we are aiming to be in the top five smartphone makers, and in the top three in the next five years. We have established very aggressive targets in the market," the BBC quoted Xu, as saying.
 
Meanwhile, it is suspected that Huawei's mobile device roll-out could lead it into a clash with Microsoft.
 
The US company has claimed that the Android system, which is used by Huawei's devices, exploits some of its innovations.
 
Xu, however, hinted that his firm is able to defend itself.
 
"We always respect the intellectual property of key companies. At the moment we have more than 65,000 patents and we have enough instruments to protect our interests," Xu said.
 
Microsoft said it would not comment on the status of "confidential patent licensing discussions".