Google bought Motorola

karol · 2011-08-15 11:53:44

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/ … quire.html

While I'm not into Android, Google going into hardware business (like Microsoft did with the Xbox and Zune) might be a smart move.

Last edited by karol (2011-08-15 11:55:38)

falconindy · 2011-08-15 13:25:00

Guess they weren't happy with HTC or Samsung... which is a shame, since I still think the N1 is the ultimate phone (uggh, but not the ultimate hardware) and the NS is a step down. Admittedly, Motorola phones will be more appealing if sold unlocked and unabused by networks like Verizon.

Gusar · 2011-08-15 13:54:22

Err, guys, this isn't about hardware. It's about patents.

Google now has the means to fight back against Microsoft and Apple.

And to that I can only say woohoo!!!!

Last edited by Gusar (2011-08-15 13:59:15)

Inxsible · 2011-08-15 13:55:41

doesn't nokia also have counter-suits against Apple? Maybe google can buy Nokia...and then pretty soon, we will have one behemoth company running the entire world.

Gusar · 2011-08-15 14:00:04

Inxsible wrote:

Maybe google can buy Nokia

Nokia is now pretty much a Microsoft company.

Inxsible · 2011-08-15 14:01:21

Gusar wrote:

Inxsible wrote:
Maybe google can buy Nokia
Nokia is now pretty much a Microsoft company.

why, because Nokia is now focussing only on Windows mobile as the platform for their phones? It doesn't take time to switch -- if you get bought though. Google shows them enough money, and Nokia will become Google's bitch in no time.

Gusar · 2011-08-15 14:55:48

Inxsible wrote:

why, because Nokia is now focussing only on Windows mobile as the platform for their phones?

Because they have a (ex-)Microsoft guy as their CEO.

Though I suppose they'd just replace him. But why acquire a non-US company that hasn't been making Android phones, when you can acquire an US company that has.

jlcordeiro · 2011-08-15 15:05:05

(small offtopic)
People still consider Google THE big company that has consideration for their developers and users, when they keep proving that it is not true (not as many times as Microsoft, I will give you that).

.:B:. · 2011-08-15 15:20:51

Inxsible wrote:

doesn't nokia also have counter-suits against Apple? Maybe google can buy Nokia...and then pretty soon, we will have one behemoth company running the entire world.

You obviously missed the news that Nokia sold out to Microsoft .

ex-Microsoft employee as CEO, billion dollar deal with Microsoft to push Windows Phone that makes Nokia de facto their personal manufacturer, and (maybe seemingly) making Nokia dependent on the cash flow coming from Redmond.

Last edited by .:B:. (2011-08-15 15:23:36)

ScionicSpectre · 2011-08-17 08:40:52

It's not often that there's a bit of patent-related news that excites me. And hey, this could mean a new age of refinement for the Android platform. A big reason why Nokia chose Windows Phone had to do with trying to diversify the market and prevent a duopoly between Google and Apple. It really makes me wish Nokia had stuck with MeeGo, especially looking at how amazing the N9 is. Makes me wanna' cry, if only these robot eyes could squeeze out a tear.

But really, I know Google's big and powerful and scary, yadda yadda, but they have a long history of supporting Linux and open standards, and they continue to fight to make open standards popular and revered (like when they bought WebM, for example). They never force anyone who uses their software to use their search engine- the worst they do is push ads in your face. That's all they ask is for you to ignore them politely- I think there are far more ominous obstacles in the industry.

Google isn't perfect, but they're doing a lot of good, and they even raised their embargo on AGPL projects in Google Code. I think they're making progress, and following the rules well enough.

jasonwryan · 2011-08-17 08:55:27

Gusar wrote:

Err, guys, this isn't about hardware. It's about patents.

Exactly. And the analogy that comes to mind is the big investment/merchant banks falling over each other to buy toxic debt in the form of credit default swaps.

If you want an entertaining insight into software patents, check out this (typically superb) This American Life episode.

Inxsible · 2011-08-17 13:37:27

ScionicSpectre wrote:

Google isn't perfect, but they're doing a lot of good,

I have no issues with Google except for the privacy concerns -- but then again no other commercial company is better than them

jlcordeiro · 2011-08-17 13:39:01

That and continuing claiming that some of their products are open source when they clearly are not.

Grinch · 2011-08-17 18:48:42

jlcordeiro wrote:

That and continuing claiming that some of their products are open source when they clearly are not.

I only know of the Android stack, what are the other(s)?

Anyway, Google has given us VP8/Webm, Chrome, Go (programming language), Summer of Code (which has benefited a HUGE number of open source projects), and also contributes code to lots of projects, for example GCC, LLVM, Wine etc etc.

So as far as big companies contributing to open source, I'd say Google is quite good.

And yes, this purchase is obviously largely about motorola's large patent portfolio, which is a direct response to the patent attacks on Android from Microsoft and Apple.

Fingel · 2011-08-17 19:06:56

jasonwryan wrote:

Gusar wrote:
Err, guys, this isn't about hardware. It's about patents.
Exactly. And the analogy that comes to mind is the big investment/merchant banks falling over each other to buy toxic debt in the form of credit default swaps.
If you want an entertaining insight into software patents, check out this (typically superb) This American Life episode.

I just recently listened to that episode. I can't believe how big a business patent slinging is, and frankly, it makes me sick. I highly recommend anyone listen to that podcast.

dunc · 2011-08-19 21:28:24

jasonwryan wrote:

the analogy that comes to mind is the big investment/merchant banks falling over each other to buy toxic debt in the form of credit default swaps.

Actually, what always comes to my mind is the whirlwind of alliances and mutual defence pacts in the run-up to World War I. That ended well...

Patents are a bizarre legacy of 18th Century mercantilism that somehow managed to survive the death (or, at least, loss of power) of the trade guilds in Europe and actually flourish in the New World. And people talk about the “free market”. Somebody should try having one sometime.

serh · 2011-08-25 18:09:40

Well, now we can simply expect more patent wars going on, now with Google attacking Apple and MS and not the other way around. And that's better than what was happening.

litemotiv · 2011-08-25 18:17:35

serh wrote:

Well, now we can simply expect more patent wars going on

Or less? // equilibrium

karol · 2011-08-25 18:23:35

litemotiv wrote:

serh wrote:
Well, now we can simply expect more patent wars going on
Or less? // equilibrium

Would a full-blown patent war would result in a "mutual assured destruction", just like the Cold War's arms race?

ataraxia · 2011-08-25 18:32:07

litemotiv wrote:

serh wrote:
Well, now we can simply expect more patent wars going on
Or less? // equilibrium

This comment is incredibly amusing when combined with your "levitating Zen smiley" avatar.

litemotiv · 2011-08-25 18:42:04

ataraxia wrote:

This comment is incredibly amusing when combined with your "levitating Zen smiley" avatar.

Student says "I am very discouraged. What should I do?" Master says, "encourage others."

karol · 2011-09-03 17:50:08

Gusar wrote:

Err, guys, this isn't about hardware. It's about patents.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-0 … hmidt.html ;P

Google Inc. (GOOG) Chairman Eric Schmidt said his company’s planned $12.5 billion purchase of smartphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. was aimed at acquiring products, and not merely patents.

litemotiv · 2011-09-03 18:07:27

karol wrote:

Gusar wrote:
Err, guys, this isn't about hardware. It's about patents.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-0 … hmidt.html ;P
Google Inc. (GOOG) Chairman Eric Schmidt said his company’s planned $12.5 billion purchase of smartphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. was aimed at acquiring products, and not merely patents.

"Perhaps a $2.4bn tax break had something to do with it too"

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/new … la-patents

karol · 2011-09-03 18:14:57

litemotiv wrote:

"Perhaps a $2.4bn tax break had something to do with it too"
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/new … la-patents

Oh yes, that's why when someone asks "How much did they pay for it?", there's only correct answer: "Depends how you count" - that's accounting ;P
If the outcome doesn't depend on methods used, that's mathematics.

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Google bought Motorola

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