LOL - fair enough. I'm not a fan either.. but the OP has (in my opinion) had a deluge of ignorant statements/comments lately and frustration set in
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Google 'Supercharging Android' With Acquisition of Motorola Mobility
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LOL - fair enough. I'm not a fan either.. but the OP has (in my opinion) had a deluge of ignorant statements/comments lately and frustration set in
Could be. But, who knows? I never heard of Nortel patents before they were sold, however, with several big players in on the action to buy them, including Google, shows that there is probably great value to them.
This whole Motorola thing came out of no where and was clearly an action taken because Google lost to the "dream team" that bought the Nortel patents.
Just having Google search built-in guarantees related ad revenue. Heck, it's enough that Google supposedly pays Apple an estimated $100 million a year in revenue sharing just from Google searches on the iPhone.
Not to mention that licensing Google apps to include on your Android device is not free.
Analysts calculate that Google currently grosses about $880 million a year from Android related income, and is constantly increasing due to soaring Android sales.
As experienced posters such as Sam Craig have pointed out, it's far more likely that the reason why Google said that the Nortel partnership wouldn't work for it, is that the Motorola deal was already in the works.
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Wow... lots of odd comments and lots of armchair lawyers.
I don't believe this is about patents. Apple and Moto have already had their day to sort this out.
I think it's about Google seeing that Apple is the most valuable company in the world and realizing it's because the do control the entire user experience. The Apple Eco system. They even mention that in their quotes.
Given this, again I see this in two ways... one is that it's a brilliant move by Google, or they just shot themselves in the foot.
From what I can see, I don't think Samsung and HTC should be too thrilled about this. Moto phones are now going to have an advantage that the others do not. So why would they stick with Android when they are competing with from the supplier with an unfair advantage.
Microsoft may have just got what they needed. Partners.
I don't believe this is about patents. Apple and Moto have already had their day to sort this out.
I think it's about Google seeing that Apple is the most valuable company in the world and realizing it's because the do control the entire user experience. The Apple Eco system. They even mention that in their quotes.
Given this, again I see this in two ways... one is that it's a brilliant move by Google, or they just shot themselves in the foot.
From what I can see, I don't think Samsung and HTC should be too thrilled about this. Moto phones are now going to have an advantage that the others do not. So why would they stick with Android when they are competing with from the supplier with an unfair advantage.
Microsoft may have just got what they needed. Partners.
Nortel Partnership????? It was not a "partnership" it was a buy out. They could have done both with no conflict.
Obviously, more experienced people are dumb too.
Yes because it was originally priced too high ($250) and no one bought it. With its new $99 price, it is selling well.
Poor Samsung and HTC.
So according to Google's top brass when Apple buys patents it's anti-competative, but Google buying patents is breaking new ground? Hypocrisy defined right there.
In summary, Google voted with their wallet to the tune of $12B. Naturally, there has to be a reason to have that much motivation, particularly since it appears to very significantly marginalize their hardware partners by seemingly going into that part of the business themselves.
Simplistically, one can say that it is to 'protect' the Android space, and from this perspective, the shareholders are going to want their ROI ... as well as to perhaps be critical of Google Leadership and ask just how they were able to extend themselves so far without having a solid legal foundation...which repreesents a strategic error in planning and thus, a huge business risk.
Sure, there's also the possibility that this was a more deliberative move by Google to go on the offensive...somehow...but if so, the action is counfounded by their recent "Anti-Trust" shakings, which is something that a market's leader (by unit share) generally isn't so reckless about doing. Thus, Occam's Razor suggests that this is the wrong answer...
I think this simply vindicates Apples/Jobs position of better product by tied developing....Wonder how long before Larry changes his mind about "open"?
Go try to find where to download today the Android 3.x source code, and you'll get your answer.
And here I thought it was called "Dumping", which was illegal.
Break out the popcorn! Overall, this is going to be an interesting competition to watch how it all shakes out.
-hh
Seems like you will care if you took the time to post here. You probably use Google Search and YouTube everyday. You use Google apps on your iPhone that generates business for them.
HELLO, MOTO!
I like the idea of having 17,000 patents. Nokia had 10,000 and Apple couldn't beat them in court and has to pay them royalties.
There were companies making phones BEFORE iPhone. Companies like Nokia and Motorola that cradled the industry. Glad this happened. A more defensive tactic. This is no longer about Nokia vs Samsung vs Motorola vs whichever phone manufacturer like it used to be. It is now a battle between three American giants - Apple vs Google vs Microsoft.
I think you misunderstood my post. It was a partnership that bought out the Nortel patents.
Unknown. Perhaps the partnership promised not to sue each other, or to cross license. Or perhaps Google simply didn't want to spend the money for both deals.
Motorola phones usually have the best radios and excellent rf, at least on Verizon. They will make and hold a call in fringe areas that others may not. They are noted for excellent signal and call clarity. They work extremely well as a phone, of course today that doesn't matter to most people. And Motorola also makes the iDEN phones, the standard of the construction industry. They are extremely rugged and take a real beating. They aren't cool looking, but drop your smartphone in a puddle of water or a pile of rocks and get back to me.
I hope that Google doesn't mess up what Motorola does so well.
I hope that Google doesn't mess up what Motorola does so well.
step away from the computer once in a while.. go outside and enjoy the real world
it's more like Motorola has been around longer, and they hold a lot of older patents
No one could. The conflict was about how much Apple was going to pay Nokia. There was no actual conflict about the Nokia patents themselves. Mostly because there couldn't be. They were international wireless standards and related patents. There was no argument. Nokia asked for more than Apple was willing to pay. Apple wanted to pay the same amount as the other licensors. So they made a deal.
It didn't do Nokia much good though. A sinking ship is a sinking ship.
Nothing like the sea-change that happened over the last 4 years. It turned the entire industry on its head. It was stagnating under Nokia and Moto and the other players, moving slower than molasses in January.
While you may see Android powering the Moto STB's that the cable companies use, I'd find it hard to imagine that the cable companies would allow for Google ads to be placed in front of the subscriber's eyeballs without compensation.
So, if the put Android on the STB, don't expect Google to reap any ad revenue unless they play ball with the Comcasts and TimeWarners of the world.
This has been a non-factor for Motorola. They've been sucking wind for a while now, regardless of signal clarity and ruggedness. The market is not about these things.
Google might just as likely pull an HP/WebOS f-up anyway. It happens all the time, and Google is no Apple.
As a shareholder of MMI, I would like to see Apple and Microsoft both make a competing bid for Motorola. I personally think that MMIis worth $17.5 billion, when you look at their patent portfolio and the decent STB and two-way radio businesses.
Let's get an e-Bay style auction going. At the very least, it'll cut into Google's cash position a little deeper.
And yes, I am biased.
Let's get an e-Bay style auction going. At the very least, it'll cut into Google's cash position a little deeper.
And yes, I am biased.
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I really don't think Apple is in need of Motorola. No sense in adding waste to an otherwise successful business.
Yes... I am confused by your statements.
Google may not have wanted to spend the money on both Moto and Nortel, but they barely tried on the Nortel side.
I don't think this all about patents anyway. Apple and others have already sorted it out with Moto over their IP... so what's there to leverage?
I think it's about Google wanting to go head to head with Apple. Hardware and eco system. They see Apple crowed king of all companies and their valuation soar... and I think Google wants that crown and they're not going to do it until they own the hardware and software... you can only go so far with partners. I know this from experience. This is how my industry works.
But, given they have based their entire business on the partner model (which is a good model), now they are changing strategies mid stream. A HUGE risk. They could win, or they could loose big.
This is not a slam dunk in either direction.
BTW... side thought... a third scenario... this could be the beginning of the end of OS licensed Smart phones. Apple has done very well with it's walled garden.... way better than Google (financially) with it's open approach. This could leave LG, Samsung, HTC hanging out to dry.
What? Why?
So Google couldn't come up $4.5+bil for the Nortel patents and then complains that the other tech's are being anti-competitive, but then pull this $12.5+bil out of their ass to buy Motorola and their patent portfolio? I'm confused. This makes absolutely no sense to me, even if Google is patent infringing and this somehow protects them now. To me, the numbers still don't add up. I just don't get it. Good for them though. Would make more sense to make it a closed ecosystem now. Having 1 wife with several girlfriends always sounds like a great idea and awesome, but we all know it's a huge character flaw and one of the most regrettable decisions ever. You just don't do it!
So Google couldn't come up $4.5+bil for the Nortel patents and then complains that the other tech's are being anti-competitive, but then pull this $12.5+bil out of their ass to buy Motorola and their patent portfolio? I'm confused. This makes absolutely no sense to me, even if Google is patent infringing and this somehow protects them now. To me, the numbers still don't add up. I just don't get it. Good for them though. Would make more sense to make it a closed ecosystem now. Having 1 wife with several girlfriends always sounds like a great idea and awesome, but we all know it's a huge character flaw and one of the most regrettable decisions ever. You just don't do it!