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Google is buying Motorola's mobile division (https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=248529)

Google is buying Motorola's mobile division

Whoa.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391083,00.asp

Quote:

August is normally a slow news month, but not today. Google announced Monday that it will acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in order to "supercharge" its Android mobile operating system and build up its patent portfolio.

In a blog post championing the acquisition, Google chief Larry Page insisted the acquisition will not change Google's commitment to keeping Android open. "We will run Motorola as a separate business," he wrote. "Many hardware partners have contributed to Android’s success and we look forward to continuing to work with all of them to deliver outstanding user experiences."

Andy Rubin, senior vice president of mobile at Google, echoed those sentiments. "We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community," Rubin said in a statement. "We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices."

During a Monday morning conference call, Rubin said he spoke with the "top five Android licensees" and "they all showed very enthusiastic support for the deal."

"Android was born as an open platform," Rubin continued. "It doesn't make sense for it to be a single OEM. We want to go as wide as possible and all our partners make it what it is today."

Perhaps more important to Google's bottom line will be the acquisition of Motorola Mobility's patent portfolio. "Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies," Page wrote.

Earlier this month, Google accused Apple, Microsoft, and other tech giants of trying to "strangle" Android with its coordinated patent purchases and pledged to "intensely" defend its mobile OS through patent purchases of its own and opposition to what it considers anti-competitive patent bids.

Last month, a consortium of tech rivals purchased 6,000 wireless technology patents held by Nortel, which Google had said it wanted to buy. Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Research in Motion, and Sony joined forces to purchase the patents, which cover wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, service provider, semiconductors, and other patent portfolios. Microsoft and Apple also teamed up to purchase patents from Novell, along with Oracle and EMC.

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said the company has over 17,000 issued patents worldwide, in addition to 7,500 patent applications awaiting approval.

Page also said "Motorola is also a market leader in the home devices and video solutions business. With the transition to Internet Protocol, we are excited to work together with Motorola and the industry to support our partners and cooperate with them to accelerate innovation in this space."

Page said Motorola's 2008 decision to "bet big" and make Android the sole operating system across all of its smartphone devices "is one of many reasons that there is a natural fit between our two companies."

"We believe that their mobile business is on an upward trajectory and poised for explosive growth," Page wrote. "The combination of Google and Motorola will not only supercharge Android, but will also enhance competition and offer consumers accelerating innovation, greater choice, and wonderful user experiences."

"We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses," said Jha.

Google said it hopes to close the deal by the end of 2011 or early 2012, pending regulatory approval.

Yep. Been watching all the opinion pieces on this today. Huge play by Google.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking (Post 7827627)

Yep. Been watching all the opinion pieces on this today. Huge play by Google.

Yeah, I was kind of surprised that it hadn't already been posted. Suddenly, Google can completely control the Android experience on a gigantic chunk of the world's smartphones. It'll be interesting to see where they end up going with it.

Hehehe, more billionaires battling billionaires. What a world we live in.

Biggest thing I see is threat of Google fighting back with patent lawsuits of its own. That's a mighty big stick they just picked up. Motorola is suing Apple already over some UDMA patents.

Adding Motorola's set-top box to GoogleTV gives them a much more inline competitor to AppleTV as well.

Next few years should be mighty interesting.

EDIT:
To be honest, I actually hope the patent lawsuits this year and next become such a huge ****ing mess that it forces reform. Suing based on the "shape" of a device is ****ing reeruned, as are software patents beyond 2 or 3 years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molitoth (Post 7827723)

Hehehe, more billionaires battling billionaires. What a world we live in.

And how is this different from the way the world has been running the past 7000 years?

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking (Post 7827753)

To be honest, I actually hope the patent lawsuits this year and next become such a huge ****ing mess that it forces reform. Suing based on the "shape" of a device is ****ing reeruned, as are software patents beyond 2 or 3 years.

Actually in all honestly this acquisition effectively kills all the patent suits out there. From the point of view of android, google and samsung will team up and now have enough patents that apple can't just sue without expecting to get sued/import blocked themselves.

In effect it'll go back to the old rules, I bring my patents to the table, you bring your patents to the table. Whoever's stack is smaller get's to add cash. That's how the system generally works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking (Post 7827753)

Motorola is suing Apple already over some UDMA patents.

Microsoft n Apple are already suing Motorola.

Interesting move and smart move by Google. Smartphones & tabs are the future. I expect updates on Motorola in the the future to be first(Android).

Now when is Microsoft going to buy Nokia and complete that deal?

Do you think this has anything to do with HTC buying out beats by Dre the other day?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urc Burry (Post 7828170)

Do you think this has anything to do with HTC buying out beats by Dre the other day?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Param (Post 7828164)

Yep, everybody's suing everybody.

Yeah, I have three GED's from Motorola, two still getting updates. The Xoom seem rather behind with updates, so I'm hoping they end up getting them faster.

And no doubt this was to stay even with HTC! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking (Post 7828340)

At least you are getting updates. Try owning a gtablet. Viewsonic is completely ignoring it even though it has better specs than the tablets they are selling now.

Ouch! I remember the Viewsonic tab got roundly booed in the reviews. Didn't know anyone picked one up. Looks like there are several custom ROMs available though, GB or HC. I'd root that bastage and update yourself!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=844

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking (Post 7830079)

Oh, I have. Flashback 7.2 kicks ass. doesn't mean I shouldn't complain about the lack of support though. This thing has more power than most of the android tablets on the market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru (Post 7830361)

Oh, I have. Flashback 7.2 kicks ass. doesn't mean I shouldn't complain about the lack of support though. This thing has more power than most of the android tablets on the market.

Nice. Really happy with Tiamat right now. The ROM scene dumps so many great options.

Yeah, after I thought about it, I kind of wondered why I was complaining. I always throw a ROM on. Then I decided "**** it, because I can", was a good enough reason.

At this point, my biggest concern is my free 4G Xoom hardware upgrade that is supposed to roll out next month. I've waited long enough already, they better not make me wait even longer!