http://gizmodo.com/5830842/
QuoteCrazy news just in—Google is acquiring the handset division of Motorola, Motorola Mobility, for $12.5 billion. This means Google could soon officially in the hardware business.
And as somebody pointed out to me on Twitter, Google will have all those patents too. This could get interesting.
Odd one if you ask me. They pissed off a load of people when they sold the N1 directly and swiftly back-peddled on that so as not to hack off networks. Now they buy out motorola mobile. Surely every hardware manufacturer out there is going to be looking twice at their android line up and wondering whether they really want to be supporting the competition.
$12.5billion is a lot to shell out just to patents. They must be intending to actually make stuff. Wonder what they are up to.
Quote from: Rooftop on August 15, 2011, 03:04:27 PM
$12.5billion is a lot to shell out just to patents.
They need them, though, to protect Android.
However, looks like Google might be trying to go the way of Apple in proprietary handsets and OS - would not like to be at HTC or other major android manufacturers right now though.
I certainly puts Samsung and HTC in a dilemma for the long term. I'm sure they are going to buy time in the short term and weigh their options in the long term. I think Google favoring Motorola and themselves will be inevitable even if that is not their intention. Plus Google has a track record of starting to dictate terms once they get the upper hand in a relationship, as we all know. If I were an Android handset maker I would be very wary.
Interesting comment on the FT about the challenges of going vertical:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3bc6f7d8-c8e6-11e0-aed8-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1VT7gW3Or