It would be too optimistic to assume that the smartphone patent wars are nearing an end. For one thing, Google had sold Motorola's handset business to Lenovo. The lawsuits were basically moot. Additionally, the cases, consolidated in a Chicago court, had been dismissed shortly before trial on grounds that neither company had sufficient evidence, although the dismissal was overturned. Neither side had a "killer patent" which could not be worked around.
Apple and Google did not settle; they did not cross-license; they did not even agree to stop suing each other in the future. The news is not as big of a deal as it first appears to be.
Their joint statement together made no important commitments. It only said that "Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform". That can mean offering nothing but words or advocating for patent reform that targets non-practicing entities, which is hardly surprising given how frequently both have been sued by patent trolls.
The prominent battle was always between Apple and Samsung. After hundreds of millions of dollars of litigation, those cases may soon be settled, however.
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