Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 15th Aug 2011 12:04 UTC
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:2006-12-06
RE[2]: Comment by MOS6510
by MOS6510 on Mon 15th Aug 2011 17:26
in reply to "RE: Comment by MOS6510"
Member since:2011-05-12
I don't think it will work, unless Google keeps the patents and sells off the rest of Motorola.
If they start making phones while controlling the software it would give them an advantage over Samsung, HTC and the rest. They'll have the A+ Androids, the others the 2nd class ones. Would these others accept that, drop Android or create their own spin-off?
Member since:
2005-12-04
Thanks for posting this, my initial reaction was the same.
Google is now competing with its partners. How long can that work? Does google go easy on its partners to keep a broad ecosystem? Or does it attempt to maximize the revenue/profit from its own handset group and screw its partners?
Potentially this is great for Microsoft (or any other smartphone software maker - RIM?) MS might lose the ability to license patents to Android handset makers, but it might gain Windows Phone licensees, which is really what it wanted all along.
It'll be interesting to see what actually happens here when the dust settles, but if I were HTC or Samsung right now, I'd definitely be considering my options.