Two long-running patent disputes came to an end today with Ericsson and Samsung agreeing to license each other's technology, while Seven agreed to pay Visto for use of its intellectual property.

Visto and Seven Networks have been at each other's throats for three years now over Visto's patents on e-mail push, but Seven is now saying it recognises the validity of Visto's patents and will pay to license them.

Meanwhile Ericsson and Samsung, who have been busy suing each other over various GSM technologies across various countries, have also made up and agreed to drop all the suits and cross-license their technologies.

Visto still has to get Microsoft and RIM to recognise the validity of its claims - cases are proceeding against the two and it seems unlikely either company is going to give up easily.

All this means less money for patent lawyers, but Qualcomm and Nokia will no-doubt be able to keep them busy if necessary.®