Live data from Hacker News

Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

techcrunch.com

171–180 of 393 posts

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#171
post #78

So basically Google has acquired Motorala because they want to strengthen Android and build up a better patent portfolio. Funny how they don't mention users, better mobile experiences, etc all that much. I'm surprised how frank Larry Page is in his blogpost http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/supercharging-android...

I am not sure if Apple would ever be caught admitting that any of their products suck. They will always sell stuff in a more positive way (I mean they won't say "our product x sucked, this is what we do to make it better"). Why should Google do it differently.

Didn't Steve Jobs say Mobile Me sucked at WWDC 2011?

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#173
post #47
post #24

I hope google cares more about updating android for the motorola droid2. Maybe I will finally get 2.3 :D

I swore off buying another Motorola product ever again after it took them an absurdly long time to roll out 2.2 for the Milestone. 2.3 is nowhere in sight. Shockingly terrible support for a flagship product. We'll see how quickly Google can transform them. Android could really use a line of official devices that are consistently updated like iOS devices.

They do have the Nexus One and Nexus 2.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#174
post #26

This is probably going to make some of the other handset manufacturers (HTC, Sony-Ericsson, etc) complain about Motorola having an unfair advantage when it comes to implementing Android. Wonder if any of them are about to regret basing their smartphone offerings on Android? The move ought to strengthen the competition among the handsets, though, as Google can now ship their "dream-version" of an Android-phone.

Apparently these are their early comments. Of course how much thought has gone into these yet is another question. http://www.google.com/press/motorola/quotes/

Additionally how much can they really say, if they say something negative like, OH S@#$!! we're in trouble now, their stock will take a hit.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#175

If this is purely a patent hunt then fine. If Google hope to get better vertical integration it's my guess they are in for a surprise. On the surface these acquisitions always sound like they are a good idea. Combine X strenght with Y strenght. In reality you have two very strong cultures that have to work together. That's simply not going to happen. Vertical integration is not just a question of having the skill all…

Not sure they are seeking vertical integration at least not at the expense of the horizontal span that has expanded the android ecosystem beyond iOS.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#176

If there is one company I trust to not screw this up it's Google and I think they have a good shot at getting this right. I'm sure their partner companies are going to be a bit ansy to start but they all compete on hardware / price anyhow which this doesn't change. A few points that pop to mind: A. They already had to compete with Motorola, so they haven't lost or gained a new competitor. B. They don't pay for Androi…

A) But they didnt have to compete with Google so they have a new competitor

B) There is a lot at stake here, a good solution would be to donate android to an independent "Android foundation"

D) Still, google's phones will always be one step ahead with technologies that are hard to compete, like voice recognition, navigation and search.

In any case this could be a phenomenal move, and may even be a big boost for android tablets and other embedded devices, an unexploited area. It sounds like Google would like to try android on anything from cars, tvs and washing machines, but 3rd partners were unwilling to take the risk. Now they have their own hardware division.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#178

If there is one company I trust to not screw this up it's Google and I think they have a good shot at getting this right. I'm sure their partner companies are going to be a bit ansy to start but they all compete on hardware / price anyhow which this doesn't change. A few points that pop to mind: A. They already had to compete with Motorola, so they haven't lost or gained a new competitor. B. They don't pay for Androi…

To add:

a) there will be at least 1 company focused on android which will be protected with the cloth that is Google's legal team.

b) Google can make Motorola better

c) Google can make hardware to go with their software.

d) Google can finally make Motorola phones running android open.

e) We can finally see what it means for a hardware company to exist with a motto: "Don't be Evil". Sure Google is not perfect, but all other companies have the motto: "Money first, morals second."

f) Google can make an incredible experience which would become the de-facto standard for Android phones. Finally killing off HTC sense.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#179
post #3

Only part of Motorola, and not generally the part considered the "original". :) Motorola mobility was spun off of the main company in January - I think at the time there was commentary on the stock markets that it was done with the aim to get someone to buy it. So Motorola will exist still - as Motorola Solutions (it is the bigger & more profitable part of the company anyway) and Google get a phone manufacture divisi…

What is there under $12 billion? 17000 patents, but how many employees, and what sales stats?

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#180
Well, that should be interesting.

I contracted at Motorola for a half-year - systems administration.

They were very segmented, regimented and separation of duty'd. It felt like you couldn't sneeze without having the boss's boss's boss sign off on it. And then over to security for his chop.

I've never been to Google or to Spain but from what I've read .. the culture mix is going to be interesting.

Post reply on HN