After Verdict, Prepare for the 'Apple Tax'

Get ready for the Apple tax, at least in the short term.

Experts say consumers should expect smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices that license various Apple design and software innovations to be more expensive to produce. "There may be a big Apple tax," said IDC analyst Al Hilwa. "Phones will be more expensive." The reason is that rival device makers will likely have to pay to license the various Apple technologies the company sought to protect in court. Some of those patents cover features in smartphones that have become widely adopted by rival device makers, such as the look of on-screen icons, the detection of finger gestures on a touch screen, and the enlargement of documents by tapping a screen. During the trial, Apple executives testified that the company was willing to license some of its patents to Samsung. In October 2010, Apple offered to license its portfolio of patents to Samsung provided the Korean company was willing to pay about $30 per smartphone and $40 per tablet.