Okay once again I'm breaking my own one-week time-off from OSNews due to, you know, taking a break and being too busy with other things, but this one is big - very big. Also, only the second time in OSNews history we've used the 'breaking'-tag. Google has just announced it is going to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion (more here). While providing Google with a dedicated mobile phone business, it also gives Google ownership of one of the most valuable mobile technology patent portfolios in existence. Update: Responses from the Android ecosystem are positive. HTC: "We welcome the news of today's acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem." Sony Ericsson & LG: "We welcome Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners."
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Member since:2005-07-06
And perhaps the recent words from Motorola CEO (I bet he realised full well, a few days ago, of the imminent acquisition by Google...) about possibly exercising its IP portfolio were ultimately more a hint at (also) those two.
In other news, a visible handset maker should now use the vanilla Android UI. Too bad it's a maker which retreated from most markets and with dwindling overall market share - but who knows, maybe this deal is what will breathe a new life into them.
Member since:2007-09-23
Truly. It is my view that Motorola has been fading lately and I was rather surprised by this move.
But this market moves very fast and the underdog today may be the leader tomorrow, which makes any predictions very fuzzy at best. Instead I try to figure out the motives that Google has with this and one big word keep popping up: patents!
Of course it would be nice for Google to control some sort of "reference" hardware/phone and maybe owning Motorola will make their "Google phones" even better. But I think that Motorola's patents are the actual treasure here.
2012 will be a very interesting year. Time to bring out the popcorn! 
Member since:2007-01-08
You show no understanding of the situation. Spending $12.5bn was not the only way for Google to "get right into the fight with Apple and Microsoft". For example, they could ask the courts for permission to intervene on behalf of their partners, or they could indemnify their partners, or they could pay for their partners legal expenses. All of which, taken together, would have cost far less than the $12.5 that they just spend to acquire a portfolio of patents form Motorola that has not stopped either Apple or Microsoft from suing Motorola.
So, either Google is very stupid, or the patents are not really the important part of this deal. And if they are not the important part of this deal, then they actually do want to be a handset manufacturer who makes their own software... like Apple!
Member since:
2007-09-23
It's an interesting move, I'll give them that. I am very eager to see how this will pan out for Google. They just got right into the fight with Apple and Microsoft (instead of standing in the shadows as they have done so far).
"It's on!"