TOSHIBA AND MICROSOFT COZY UP: Toshiba and Microsoft have signed a patent cross-licensing deal enabling the two companies to use each other's patents freely in the computer and audiovisual equipment sectors.

The patents include those related to software technology in the two areas, according to a Toshiba spokeswoman.

With growth in its traditional PC centric market slowing, Microsoft is boosting its efforts to gain a presence in the newer digital consumer electronics arena, which is led by Asian companies like Sony and Samsung.