Tech Licensing programs

How exFAT works

The exFAT file system handles large files, such as those used for audio and video media. It allows efficient storage and seamless data portability between desktop PCs and consumer electronic devices, enabling easy interchange between the two. Inheriting its base from FAT32, another Microsoft file system, exFAT can be implemented with minimal effort. Companies can also choose to add transaction support to their exFAT implementation (TexFAT) to assist with transaction-safe operations. exFAT has been included in Windows operating systems since Windows CE 6.0 and Windows Vista SP1.

 

Our exFAT licensees

More than 100 companies license exFAT, including some of the world’s best-known and most innovative OEMs. exFAT is used by the Secure Digital (SD) Card Association for high-capacity, high-speed SDXC and SDUC cards.

How Exchange ActiveSync Works

The Exchange ActiveSync protocol is the language spoken between a mobile device or tablet and a messaging server, enabling synchronization of pre-defined objects. The EAS protocol allows devices to synchronize email, calendar, contacts, and tasks over the air with Microsoft Exchange, Outlook.com and other servers which implement the protocol.

Syncing is the process of reconciling differences between data stored on a device and on the Exchange Server. A mobile device or tablet will have its own email, contacts, calendar, and task applications, maintaining its own collection of objects and changes made since its last sync with the Exchange Server.

The device may initiate a new sync by sending a set of updates to the Exchange Server and requesting the Exchange Server respond with its own updates. The Exchange Server processes updates it receives, resolves any conflicts, and sends its changes back to the mobile device.

OEMs, application developers and service providers can license Exchange ActiveSync for use on their own devices, software, or servers.

Benefits of EAS

Broadly licensed protocol

Many OEMs and software developers have licensed EAS. Many of the world’s most widely used email clients adopt EAS to sync email and other data with top messaging servers.

 

How SMB works

SMB is a client-server system. It provides a protocol for exchanging data packets between the client device and the server. Data packets may control sessions with the server, allow users to remotely access and edit files and directories stored on the server, and perform functions such as printing documents or authenticating users.

SMB is critical to ensuring that enterprise-level servers are secure and interoperable with the networks they serve. Other applications of SMB include peripherals such as printers and scanners, security cameras, televisions, and some mobile devices.

Traditionally used in local area networks, SMB can also be used to transmit data over virtual private networks and to cloud-based solutions. SMB is implemented in Microsoft Windows as Microsoft SMB Protocol.

SMB features

SMB technical documentation

While a technology license is required to implement SMB, Microsoft publishes documentation about the SMB protocols:
 

Our SMB licensees

Microsoft Technology Licensing offers licenses for SMB Client and SMB Server stack utilization implemented according to our protocol documentation in storage systems, a variety of devices, and software applications.

 

How RDP works

RDP allows users of a remote client to connect securely to a server or virtual machine over a network. RDP connects with, and channels communication between, components of remote clients and servers. RDP is a multi-channel protocol, with separate virtual channels carrying different types of data. These include graphics data, keyboard and mouse user input, device communication, file system, audio and video, and licensing information. The RDP protocol has applications in secure business and government network solutions, including where an encrypted desktop is required. RDP client software is also built into Windows Pro and Enterprise.  For developers building remote desktop client applications for computers, phones, tablets, or other devices, Microsoft Technology Licensing (MTL) offers a technology license for the RDP protocol set.

RDP features

RDP technical documentation

Although a technology license is required to integrate the RDP protocol into a device, the RDP product documentation describing the RDP protocols is freely available on the Microsoft Developers Network.

Our RDP licensees

Microsoft licenses RDP globally to several customers developing remote desktop, cloud, and device solutions.

 

Microsoft White Space Patents and our patent pledge

Microsoft promises not to assert any of the White Space Patents listed below against any person or entity for their efforts to provide or support the provision of internet access to rural or underserved markets. Microsoft may occasionally expand the list as it procures additional patents directed towards TV white space technology.
 

Implementation on a non-Windows platform

To get source code for the Windows Media Audio and Video codecs and to develop and distribute Interim Products, you must execute the agreement below. Interim Products are Windows Media Components-enabled products that aren’t customer-ready (e.g., integrated circuits). After this agreement is executed, you may receive:

• Windows Media Audio 9 Decoder for WMA 9 Series Standard, Lossless, and Voice Codecs and WMA 10 Professional Codec (includes Advanced Systems Format (ASF) Reader)
• Windows Media Video 9 Decoder for All Profiles and Levels 
• Windows Media Audio 9 Encoder for WMA 9 Series Standard, Lossless, and Voice Codecs and WMA 10 Professional Codec (includes ASF Writer)
• Windows Media Video 9 Encoder for All Profiles and Levels
• Distribution rights: Interim Product Licensees are authorized to ship Windows Media Component implementations to Windows Media Components Final Product Agreement Licensees.

Distributing a device or software

To get object code implementations of the Windows Media Audio and Video codecs and to distribute these implementations on a royalty-bearing basis in customer-ready Final Products, you’ll need to execute the following agreement. Final Products can be non-Windows software apps or hardware devices. After this agreement is executed, you may receive:

• Distribution rights: As a consumer electronics manufacturer or hardware vendor, you can distribute Windows Media-based Final Products such as portable audio and video players, set-top boxes, and mobile devices with audio and video capabilities to consumers.

Embedded IoT device development made easy

Azure RTOS is an embedded development suite including a small but powerful operating system that provides reliable, ultra-fast performance for resource-constrained devices. It’s easy-to-use and market-proven, having been deployed on more than 10 billion devices worldwide. Azure RTOS supports the most popular 32-bit microcontrollers and embedded development tools, so you can make the most of your team’s existing skills.

Benefits of Azure RTOS

When is a license needed for Azure RTOS?

Microsoft publishes the Azure RTOS source code to GitHub. No license is required to install and use the software for internal development, testing, and evaluation purposes. A license is required to distribute or sell components and devices unless using Azure RTOS licensed hardware.

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