Rare technology pact by Google and Microsoft?

Microsoft has licensed its technical know-howto nearly everycompany, including rivals such as Apple and Nokia.

Now Redmond can add Google to the list. To help power theGoogle Sync productthat was announced on Monday, the search giant has licensedMicrosoft's ActiveSync protocol for sharing information between aserver and mobile phone.

Google Sync allows users to synchronize their contacts, and insome cases calendar information, with Google's Web-based services.It works with a range of phones including Windows Mobile phones,Apple's iPhone, RIM's BlackBerry, and phones from Nokia and SonyEricsson.

Generally, companies have licensed the ActiveSync protocol tolink data between a cell phone and a Microsoft Exchange server. Inthis case, though, Google is using ActiveSync to link Google dataoff of their servers to mobile phones.

Although Google and Microsoft have cooperated in some areas inthe past, the deal on Monday is the first announced example of oneof tho******panies licensing the other's intellectual property,according to Microsoft.

Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's top intellectual property lawyertouted the move.

"Google's licensing of these Microsoft patents relating to theMicrosoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol is a clear (acknowledgment)of the innovation taking place at Microsoft," Gutierrez said in astatement. "This agreement is also a great example of Microsoft'sopenness to generally license our patents under fair and reasonableterms so long as licensees respect Microsoft intellectualproperty."

Gutierrez noted that the company has struck more than 500licensing deals since it began itsintellectual property-sharing push in 2003.

So, by my count, that leaves Oracle and Red Hat among big nametechnology companies that don't have some sort of pact withMicrosoft. Anyone else have another prominent name I should add tothat list?

Update, 2:05 p.m. PT: I thought it was worth checking tosee if the deal between Google and Microsoft was broad enough tocover Exchange synchronizing to an Android device. "Android is notcovered by this agreement," a Microsoft representative told CNETNews.