Lenovo will load Microsoft’s productivity apps — including Microsoft Office, OneDrive and Skype — on select Lenovo devices that use the Android operating system in a deal Fortune Magazine says matters.

In a deal announced Monday, Lenovo said it expects to ship millions of these Android-based devices worldwide over the next several years. This expanded collaboration between Microsoft and Lenovo also includes a patent cross-licensing agreement that covers Lenovo and Motorola devices.

“Our collaboration with Microsoft will create new opportunities for our customers to take advantage of some of Microsoft’s most popular apps,” said Christian Eigen, Leader of Corporate Alliances, Lenovo in a statement. “Installing Microsoft apps and services on our devices will bring additional value to consumers around the globe.”

Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, it has entered into more than 1,200 licensing agreements. Fortune notes that Microsoft “makes a lot of money from Android thanks to its patents being used in Google’s operating system.” That income fell lately, though, because shipments of smartphones who have licensing deals with the company dropped.

Fortune says the continuing expansion of Microsoft’s licensing program is the big deal here. It’s most recent quarterly report showed a 27 percent year-over-year drop in licensing revenue.

Although Lenovo (ADR: LNVGY) has seen a 33 percent decline in its smartphone sales, largely due to the success of Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo, it could bounce back, giving Microsoft a boost.

See the Fortune story here: http://fortune.com/2016/08/23/microsoft-lenovo-patents-apps/