Let patents Microsoft apps, you buy things, Ballmer on licensing spree?

By Michael Gorman posted Apr 22 2011 12: 36 AM many of us use apps to stuff buy these days, whether its access to the latest e-book from Amazon, or pamper a GroupOn for a day at the local Spa. Seems obvious now, but it was not (at least according the USPTO) in 2004, when Microsoft submitted a patent for the idea - and more recently, that the application was granted. The patent claims a way to make purchases on a network connected portal with a "streamlined interface" (to "leave you undoubtedly optimize your money"). The portal selling sites maintains a list and exchanges information as necessary, to the buyer of the seller Prostavlenie pick up can be. Now, we are not closely familiar with the ways shopping apps work, but the patents language seems cool enough to cover applications, make Internet purchases without a full-on-web browser-although only a Federal Court can safely say. The only other question is what are Ballmer and his guys with these new IP powers granted do?

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