A cross-licensing agreement has been signed between Microsoft and Samsung Electronics that saves both companies rounds to the court. Under the agreement, Samsung has agreed to pay Microsoft royalties for technology used in its Android-based tablets and handsets. The pact went further that as both companies looked at the future and agreed to work together to further develop and market Windows based phone devices.

Of late, Microsoft has been aggressive in extracting licensing agreements with electronic manufacturers that use smart phone technology. A similar deal was earlier struck with another smart phone biggie, HTC. Earlier Samsung phones used the Windows Phone platform, but later most of its models changed to Google's Android software, especially its flagship model, Galaxy S II.

This must come as a major respite to Samsung, which is already reeling under multiple lawsuits and complaints, especially with Apple

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In a good news to overseas investors, the Government has enhanced the foreign investment limit for FM radio to 26 per cent from the earlier 20 per cent. This change ensures conformity of the foreign investment limit with other similar activities in the Information and Broadcasting sector. ‘Information Services’ has been listed as a grouping in the sectoral section relating to services to rationalise the groupings.

The new norms came into effective from October 1. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the Ministry of Commerce and industry had issued the first Consolidated FDI Policy in April last year with the objective of updating the document every six months.

Earlier in July, the Cabinet had approved raising the FDI limit during the third phase of expansion of FM radio broadcasting services. This latest development that would help attract more investments, would give a major fillip to the overall output across all radio channels, from technology upgrade to increase of reach.

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International music lovers in India have a big reason to cheer. Viewers of Zee Café and MTV India will see real fireworks this Diwali when they get to see Billboards Music Awards 2011 and first concert of world-renowned metal band ‘Metallica’ on Indian Television respectively.

The first concert of world-renowned metal band ‘Metallica’ in India will be telecast on MTV India. The channel, in association with F1 Rocks, will telecast the one-hour special of historic Metallica performance one week after the live event. The nine times Grammy winners, Metallica will headline the series staged alongside the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix races on 28 October in Delhi.

But, there’s much more. F1 Rocks and MTV has also organized a nationwide band hunt, where a lucky band selected through online voting will get a lifetime opportunity to perform at the concert. MTV will telecast this nationwide search as four episodes of half-hour.

Billboards Music Awards 2011 is being brought to India for the first time, exclusively by Zee Café. This is a major announcement, coming as it does on the heels of five new shows that gets launched on Zee Café. The 2011 Billboard Music Awards itself promises to be a big bang as music lovers will see with stars like Rihanna, Britney Spears and the Black Eyed Peas rock the stage at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

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Michael Jackson's lead guitarist Orianthi Panagaris has strummed music with Oscar winning composer AR Rahman for Imtiaz Ali's forthcoming film Rockstar. While Rahman and Imtiaz had short-listed several Indian and international musicians, they had Orianthi on the top of their list, given her incredible body of work and her huge international success

AR Rahman checked with his agent in Los Angeles and even met Orianthi during one of his visits there. He made her listen to the track and Orianthi immediately agreed to be a part of the film and she was also briefed about film's story and the song's relevance by the director, Imtiaz Ali.Rahman recorded the song, ‘Saadda Haq’ in his Los Angeles studio. The process took six hours, while Imtiaz witnessed the entire process through Skype software apps.