Microsoft sees 5x more revenue from Android than Windows Phone 7

According to a report released this morning by Citi analyst Walter Pritchard, Microsoft sees $5 for every HTC phone sold running Android thanks to a patent settlement between the two companies over the infringement of intellectual property. Microsoft is currently looking into filing lawsuits against other Android manufacturers to push the current $5 per phone standing to $7.50-$12.50 per device according to Pritchard.

When you take a look at the numbers, HTC has shipped approximately 30 million Android devices. At a rate of $5 per device, that means roughly $150 million in Android revenues for Microsoft.

Microsoft has admitted to selling roughly 2 millions Windows Phone licenses (not devices). And at $15 per license, that leaves MS with a revenue of $30 million with their handheld devices.

Considering these figures, I think it is safe to say that Android is shaping up to be quite an asset to the Windows Phone 7 team. But in terms of bridging the gap between WP7 and the likes of Apple and Google, Microsoft still has a ways to go. If you ask me, things were headed south for them the moment Ballmer took over.

Via [Asymco]