Microsoft licenses mouse, keyboard technology

eWeek | at | by Mike

Microsoft has made new intellectual property licensing initiatives available for its hardware technologies, a first for the Redmond, Wash., software giant.

The new intellectual property licensing initiatives cover its mouse and keyboard technologies; "U2" technology that enables a computer peripheral device to be connected to a computer using either a PS2 or USB auto-sensing interface; its Tilt Wheel; and the Magnifier viewing and editing tool that is used with input devices such as a mouse.

Microsoft will make these technologies broadly available to third-party brands and hardware manufacturers in the mobile and desktop peripherals industry.