Today’s mobile news roundup features: Motorola and Apple preparing to enter a licensing agreement; vendors taking necessary precaution at IFA 2012;  HTC to launch a new tablet; HotelTonoght opens in 10 new cities; and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 expected to have little improvement in today’s launch.

Motorola-Apple licensing agreement

After Google acquired Motorola Mobility many hoped the portfolio that came along with it would protect Android from the litany of lawsuits that’s plagued the mobile industry these past couple of years.  And while that may be questioned now that Apple’s won a major suit against Samsung, it’s been uncovered in a filing to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California that Motorola’s agreed to license their cellular standards-essential patents in Germany to Apple.

Motorola’s decision follows the court approval of a Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory licensing offered by Apple earlier this year.  No news yet as to how much the licensing fee would cost Apple.

IFA 2012 abuzz with product licensing

If you can still remember, last year at IFA Apple pulled a fast one on Samsung, which led to the Galaxy Tab 7.7 being pulled out from the IFA when a German court granted Apple a preliminary injunction for the said device.  The GT 7.7 was supposed to be Samsung’s big comeback in the tablet market as the GT 10.1 was hit with numerous obstacles since it was launched.  Still, Apple was able to convince the German court that Samsung’s new tab still infringed the iPad.

What happened to Samsung was completely humiliating and now, vendors at the largest trade show are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves from going down the same road.  According to Claudia Rossow-Scholl, a custom officer working at the IFA, makers of mobile phones, computers and television sets registered a record number of rights with German authorities this year to eliminate any suspicions of imitation and so as not to be pulled out from the IFA.  Also, exhibitors have taken licenses for more inventions than ever from peers as they seek to avoid their devices being drawn into scrutiny.

“There are rights holders who approach us ahead of the show and say, have a look at this or that rival product,” Rossow-Scholl said in an interview after weeks of reviewing gadgets that are delivered to Berlin to be displayed, declining to name specific manufacturers. “Companies have become a lot more watchful.”

HTC to launch new tablet at IFA

It was not long ago that Taiwanese company HTC launched their very own Android tablet at the MWC.  And just a few months after the launch, they’re rumored to be readying to release yet another tablet this time at the IFA.  Nothing much about the rumored tablets has been discussed but one thing’s for sure, it’s an Android tablet but will have a different user interface than their HTC Flyer.

HotelTonight launches in 10 new cities

HotelTonight recently expanded their business in London, UK and tapped Morgans Hotel Group, Thompson Hotels, Langham Hotels & Resorts, and others as their partners.  Now, they’ve opened their doors in the following cities: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool, as well as St. Louis, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Nashville.  The other two cities, Manchester and Salt Lake City/Park City will be coming in September.  The new addition brings their total to 50 cities and you can expect more to come.

“Since our funding news and London launch in June, we’ve put a ton of energy and resources behind expanding HotelTonight overseas and stateside,” HotelTonight CEO Sam Shank said. “The team here works tirelessly to secure amazing deals every day, and to continue to bring the HotelTonight experience to users across the globe.”

Galaxy Note 2 not much different than the first

Today’s the day Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note 2, the second generation of their popular phablet – a cross between a smartphone and a tablet – dubbed as the ultimate productivity tool.  Though some expect drastic changes or add ons, sources say that the new phablet would be much like the first Galaxy Note.

“There won’t be huge innovative changes in design, but the Note 2 will feature quite a few improvements and enable Samsung to carry on its strong sales momentum in the category,” said Lee Sun-tae, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities. “With the launch, Samsung will also be trying to turn around downbeat sentiment after the U.S. legal defeat.”