Another one bites the dust as the 15^th company fell to Microsoft's Android deal. Honeywell International Inc, is the latest to strike a deal with Microsoft to ensure the company doesn't hit it with a lawsuit, the same lawsuit that is plaguing Motorola Mobility. Honeywell's reason for signing a deal with Microsoft, has all to do with its Dolphin Android based device, a digital assistant for data capture, navigation and communication for field workers.

The deal with Honeywell is the latest in a string of licensing agreements between Microsoft and several other companies, including Samsung and HTC. For those who are late to the party, Microsoft is going after many Android device manufactures because the Android operating system infringes on several of the company's patents. So far, only the Google-owned Motorola Mobility chose to go up against Microsoft in court instead of signing an agreement, a move that failed.

According to Brad Smith, general counsel at Microsoft, "Microsoft has always been, and remains open to, a settlement of our patent litigation with Motorola,"

"Motorola is always open to negotiations that avoid wasteful and abusive patent claims," the company said in a written response to questions. The company said Microsoft's licensing strategy was attempting to "undercut Motorola's industry-leading patent portfolio" at the same time it was "seeking inflated royalties tied to standards that Microsoft alone controls."

Despite the United States court ruling that Motorola has in fact infringed on Microsoft patents, and has banned all imports of its key Android devices, the company is in no way backing down in what appears to be a losing battle.

Time will only tell if Motorola Mobility will be the only company to stand up to Microsoft, or if others will follow in its footsteps, a move that could potentially free all 15 companies from this license agreement.