Microsoft opens up hardware licensing

Microsoft is to open up the intellectual property licensing of its peripherals hardware technology

Microsoft today moved to open up the licensing of its peripherals hardware technology.

The software giant unveiled revamped intellectual property licensing structures for its mouse and keyboard technologies, including U2 interface detection and switching, Tilt Wheel and the Magnifier tools available to third-party brands and hardware manufacturers.

By expanding its intellectual property licensing Microsoft hopes to increase market demand within the consumer electronics industry for its hardware.

"Most people think of Microsoft as solely a software company, but we've been a leading hardware innovator and supplier to the desktop peripherals industry for over 20 years," said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.

"This hardware licensing initiative is a first for Microsoft, and we are excited to make our innovations broadly available to others in the industry through licensing."

U2 technology enables a computer peripheral device (such as a mouse or keyboard) to be connected to a computer using either a PS2 or USB auto-sensing interface.

The Tilt Wheel is a hardware component of mice and optional keyboard offerings that allows users to tilt the component from side to side and up and down to manoeuvre the cursor.

The Magnifier is a viewing and editing tool used with input devices such as a mouse. It delivers functionality equivalent to holding a magnifying glass up to a computer screen.