Google 'Supercharging Android' With Acquisition of Motorola Mobility

[rdowns]

So they should just have let others steamroll the platform with litigation? This is a reaction to the situation Google have found themselves in.


I've got nothing else to go by, unless all press releases and PR is bull-****? Are you (and others) so negative when it comes to Apple PR stuff?

Think logically. Goggle and Motorola do a deal. Before they go public on Monday, Google calls up their Android partners on Sunday to tell them about it. What the hell else can they do other than praise it? Believe me, all the major Android makers are in meetings this morning and are discussing how to deal with this.

 

[OllyW]

Motorola sued Apple back in Fall 2010 for not licensing about 20 patents related to 3G, GPRS, WiFi and antenna design.

Apple countersued shortly afterwards with just a handful of patents (increased later to also about 20, off the top of my head).

So those two companies are already at battle.

Here's a few details from their current legal squabbles...

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/10/06/motorola-files-suit-against-apple-for-patent-infringement/

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/10/30/apple-sues-motorola-over-multi-touch/

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/10/apple-suing-motorola-over-design-of-xoom-tablet/

 

[Steve121178]

Don't worry people we're still winning!!! iPhone 5 will blow them all away there's nothing Google can do to stop us.

Please explain your use of "we're" & "us".

 

[Popeye206]

Very interesting move.... not sure this is a good move for Google.

They now will compete with their partners. Moto does not seem to be in the forefront in the Android market (Samsung is), and if I remember right, Moto is not making money with smart phones. Their profits are slim at best.

I do think they wanted the patents, but not sure how they will apply here. I would think that Apple as well as others have already licensed all they need to license from Moto.

Interesting. This could be the smartest move ever, or they may have just killed Android.

 

[Apple...]

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.

"Google's 'Don't Be Evil' mantra? It's ********."

 

[Mr Bigs]

I'd like to see Apple pick up RIM and HP and form a separate division to go hard after the corporate market.

Never happen !!! Especially HP and most corporate accounts that use BB would drop them if Apple took over RIM.

 

[davedude]

Hello Google [/robot voice]

 

[ChazUK]

With all respect what would you expect them to say? Right now the major manufacturers have a lot invested in Android and have to follow that through but I'm almost certain they're going to be watching this situation very carefully. Honestly I'd expect to see those manufacturers without a direct link to the OS providers switching to the widest possible range of OS's to hedge their bets.

I would have thought that members of the Open Handset Alliance would be relieved that they're in a position for Google to protect them against others.

A lot of OEM's get their (smartphone) bread and butter from Android with little alternative at the moment. What would happen if HTC was forced into a position where they had to drop Android? Move to WP7 exclusivity? Bada? WebOS? Maemo? Symbian?

There would be no way to turn as it stands today.

Think logically. Goggle and Motorola do a deal. Before they go public on Monday, Google calls up their Android partners on Sunday to tell them about it. What the hell else can they do other than praise it? Believe me, all the major Android makers are in meetings this morning and are discussing how to deal with this.

Perhaps I'm an idealist but I just don't see it that way, sorry. Time will tell how it all pans out.

 

[hibanzai]

As I am not a fanboy of any handset, since it's a stupid idea, I think this is great for us consumers. Competition always creates better products and better deals. And the competition just got really... Errr... Competitive? Yes. That is it. Really competitive.

Good. Can't wait to see what motto's new devices after the acquisition will be like, and how android will perform on them.

They sure have one of the best antennas around, but they need sexier designs.

I look forward to what's coming. Looking forward to the iphone5 more now.

 

[Mr Bigs]

Please explain your use of "we're" & "us".

That's some gooood stuff your sippin on there fanboi.

 

[johncrab]

More of the Meg Whitman approach of "Buy anything, pay anything you have to pay then figure out the details." Without ANY experience as a hardware maker and taking on the inertia and largesse of Motorola, I see another Microsoft Zune in the works. THe attitude expressed here by Google is to have a place to stick their software. I see Apple going its own way as a true hardware/software manufacturer and Google, LG, Samsung, Nokia, Sony and HTC fighting amongst themselves for the rest of the market. That might be a good thing in terms of offering other users a non-iPhone product but it will mean clubbing each other for a share of each other's markets. Should be fun to watch.

 

[PracticalMac]

No one has ever successfully licensed a platform *and* competed with licensees at the same time. Apple tried it (twice) as did Palm & Nokia. I'm highly skeptical that Google will succeed.

Who is "Twice"?

One is the System license during the Gil Amilio era, what is other?

 

[arcite]

Never happen !!! Especially HP and most corporate accounts that use BB would drop them if Apple took over RIM.

Why would corporate accounts drop BB if Apple took over? RIM doesn't exactly have a clean record with maintain objectivity of privacy with their software (as evidenced by their willingness to give into overbearing government who demand access to their networks for spying.).

 

[theOtherGeoff]

They don't think so.



Google isn't bothered about who makes the best handsets, it wants the 17,000 Motorola patents.

but the other side of their mouth said 'control the end to end experience'

So cake (They now get to bring patents to a patent fight), and eat it (oh, you mean we can make $300/handset if we don't share this bit of groundbreaking HW/SW/cloud experience with the rest of our 'partners', instead of $100? Hmm, 'don't be evil' doesn't mean 'don't be stupid', after all it's just business)

In a year, or 2, consider Android OEMs getting the 'open code' the day MotoMob releases the 'reference' platform. 6 months of non-competitive profits, at which time we release a new 'reference' platform. All while being 'open.' Brilliant.

 

[Mr Bigs]

As I am not a fanboy of any handset, since it's a stupid idea, I think this is great for us consumers. Competition always creates better products and better deals. And the competition just got really... Errr... Competitive? Yes. That is it. Really competitive.

Good. Can't wait to see what motto's new devices after the acquisition will be like, and how android will perform on them.

They sure have one of the best antennas around, but they need sexier designs.

I look forward to what's coming. Looking forward to the iphone5 more now.

Antennas & radios.

 

[samcraig]

I think it's funny that a lot of people here want to assume that this was a reactionary move regarding the patent issue as opposed to an offensive maneuver which Google has been working on for awhile. Deals like this are rarely done in such a short time. They are usually in the works for a LONG time.

Which is another good reason that Google was UNABLE to be a part of the consortium when offered.

It's also not an indication of desperation or panic on Google's side since, again, most likely this deal was in the pipeline for AWHILE.

 

[Mr Bigs]

If anything I'd like to see HP buy HTC and run Win7,Android & WebOS. HTC is one of the best handset makers.

 

[VitaminD]

Think logically. Goggle and Motorola do a deal. Before they go public on Monday, Google calls up their Android partners on Sunday to tell them about it. What the hell else can they do other than praise it? Believe me, all the major Android makers are in meetings this morning and are discussing how to deal with this.

Indeed. And they are likely thinking about leaving Android - which is the smart thing to do - and go with Microsoft for better or for worse.

It would make no sense for them to stay with Android - phone or tablet - with Google being a direct competitor.

 

[*LTD*]

More of the Meg Whitman approach of "Buy anything, pay anything you have to pay then figure out the details." Without ANY experience as a hardware maker and taking on the inertia and largesse of Motorola, I see another Microsoft Zune in the works. THe attitude expressed here by Google is to have a place to stick their software. I see Apple going its own way as a true hardware/software manufacturer and Google, LG, Samsung, Nokia, Sony and HTC fighting amongst themselves for the rest of the market. That might be a good thing in terms of offering other users a non-iPhone product but it will mean clubbing each other for a share of each other's markets. Should be fun to watch.

Ah, an argument for purity. Apple is the only truly competent player because they know hardware and software.

Google's inexperience might result in a Zune-like mess. It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Either way, Google's OEMs are screwed. That much is for sure.

 

[batchtaster]

Makes sense. Google can now adopt (copy) Apple's successful end-to-end approach. Motorola, like Nokia is one of the dying "old guard". Nokia gets acquired by Microsoft (more-or-less), Google gets Motorola, wonder who will get Sony Ericsson...

 

[Mr. Gates]

Watch Microsoft buy HTC

That would never happen.

HTC has too much of a commitment to Android.

But if it were possible it might be interesting to see how Nokia would react.

 

[Apple...]

Ah, an argument for purity. Apple is the only truly competent player because they know hardware and software.

Google's inexperience might result in a Zune-like mess. It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Either way, Google's OEMs are screwed. That much is for sure.

...which really leaves them with just WP7 to work with.

 

[rdowns]

Perhaps I'm an idealist but I just don't see it that way, sorry. Time will tell how it all pans out.

So you really believe it was a coincidence that they all used the same terms in their press release? I welcome the company that makes our OS competing with us for hardware sales. Interested in a bridge I have for sale?

We welcome the news of today’s acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem” Peter Chou, CEO, HTC

“I welcome Google’s commitment to defending Android and its partners” Bert Nordberg, President & CEO, Sony Ericsson

“We welcome Google’s commitment to defending Android and its partners” Jong-Seok Park, Ph.D, President & CEO, LG

“We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem” J.K. Shin, President, Samsung, Mobile Communications Division

 

[kdarling]

As Motorola Mobility also makes settop boxes, DVRs and cable modems, I wonder if this deal will also resurrect some form of Google TV.

Imagine if all the Motorola cable boxes switched to run Android.

 

[OllyW]

Who is "Twice"?

One is the System license during the Gil Amilio era, what is other?

The HP branded iPod or the Motorola ROKR E1 which synced with iTunes?