HTC Implements Workaround to Apple's Patent for Evo 4G LTE, One X

From DailyTech: Apple, Inc.'s (AAPL) U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647 covers data-tapping -- creating actionable links in a text document, and displaying a menu of options, such as to call or save a phone number.

While questions of prior art surround the patent, Apple has thus far been successful in convincing the courts of the patent's validity. However, despite Apple suing all the major Android manufacturers and despite the feature being in all stock Android browsers/messaging apps, it's only been able to use the patent to pick off the smallest and weakest of Android "big three" -- Android's HTC Corp. (TPE:2948).

Even as Apple's decision to "beat up on the little guy" has drawn ire, HTC has moved to try its best to restore its products. The Verge confirms that its testing of the Evo 4G LTE -- a new handset on preorder at Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) -- and the One X -- a handset coming to AT&T, Inc. (T) -- reveals that both devices no longer carry the infringing browser and messaging app bulids.

HTC has developed modified versions of these apps. It cleverly creates a settings menu that allows users to directly associate a data type with a specific app. This allows documents to be marked up in such a way that it skirts Apple's patent description, given that rather than a menu coming up, a click directly launches the app.

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