Microsoft is raising the price of Android phones

This is kind of a shame.  Microsoft is claiming a variety of patents on Android features, and HTC has agreed to pay to license those features on the phones they created.

While the details aren’t known, this means that each Android device that is built by HTC (wuch as the Nexus One) will cost them a bit more.  One of the big advantages to the Android OS is how cheap it is for companies like HTC to license.  They can sell the phones for less money and still earn more with each one sold.  This new licensing will eat into those profits, likely resulting in higher priced phones in the stores.

It’ll be interesting to see if HTC or Microsoft reveal any of the specifics.  We’ll let you know if they do.