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Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

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Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#311

Post by kls »

intended wrote: post #206
dlikhten wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

GOOG is a s/w company and not a manufacturer. The ability to integrate both sides of such different firms is very difficult. This puts both points b), c) and e) off the table. Point f)? I'm not sure, but I really hope that they can do something while looking at exactly how it will play out on a phone. They did try this with the Nexus though, and that was not something which worked out perfectly imho. M&A's have a ten…

I would not be surprised if they don't keep to patent and software assets and spin the hardware off into a non-Google company.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#312

Post by wonderyak »

ldar15 wrote: post #297
sukuriant wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was under the understanding that their old phones were top of the line, e.g. the first Motorola Droid.

I own a "first" Droid, so I'm assuming that was sarcasm.

Are you kidding? It was a beast when it came out.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#314

Post by lugia »

I'm not against companies using Google flexible UI to innovate the interface but I strongly believe Android needs a good example of consistent user experience. Everything is just too fragmented right now. Just look at system icons alone in any Android phone, they are of million different styles.

With Motorola, Google should try its best to have a phone with everything thought out from hardware to software design.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#315

Post by mindcrime »

runjake wrote: post #302
mindcrime wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure why krakensden is being downvoted for their comment. Maybe because Google have been pretty emphatic about the fact that the Honeycomb / Ice Cream Sandwich code will be released, and because their delay in releasing this one specific revision is hardly the same thing as "closing Android" or whatever hyperbole is being floated around. That said, I didn't downvote him. I didn't think the comment added much…

I'm not sure I see the point of opening an Android release after it's developed. It defeats a primary benefit of open source software. And even then, on most models (HTC, Motorola), unless I'm willing to violate my warranty and root it or unlock the bootloader, I'm not able to actually use the source. This whole "Android is open!" thing seems largely for marketing, not to actually promote any openness (unless you buy…

I'm not sure I see the point of opening an Android release after it's developed. It defeats a primary benefit of open source software.

Well, having the code released at all, is always better than not having it. The more code released to the world under a reasonable F/OSS license, the better, as far as I'm concerned. That said, you make a good point... Android isn't necessarily developed in the most open of fashions, despite the fact that the source itself is, technically, open source. :-(

And even then, on most models (HTC, Motorola), unless I'm willing to violate my warranty and root it or unlock the bootloader, I'm not able to actually use the source.

Nonetheless, you do have that choice. That's a fundamentally different scenario than with, say, a win7 phone or whatever, where you don't have access to the source at all. Plenty of people are willing to take the chance with the warranty situation in order to load custom versions of Android, so clearly this matters to some people.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#316

Post by pietrofmaggi »

robterrell wrote: post #141
pietrofmaggi wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Motorola was split in two companies the past 4th of January. Motorola Mobility (MMI) and Motorola Solutions (MSI). The cellular infrastructure, part of MSI, was sold to Nokia/Siemes Networks. Motorola Solutions in mainly the Enterprise Mobility Business (Mobile Rugged Devices), WiFi systems, Tetra networks and a lot of other Government stuffs.

Which Moto acquired the YC company 280 North?

Motorola Solutions:

http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Moto...

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#317

Post by rbanffy »

recoiledsnake wrote: post #304
rbanffy wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Meego/Maemo risked ended up being like WebOS And that's why I wouldn't suggest going with it. The fact remains, however, that the transition from MeeGo to Android would be much easier and that Nokia would have a competitive Android phone (and a very good one) now instead of a WP7 phone in September or October. > You think you know more than them and that they're all fools? No. I don't think Elop is an idiot. Obviou…

>No. I don't think Elop is an idiot I was talking about the board decision to replace their current CEO. If things were all going to be hunky-dory as you claim, that would be an idiotic decision. >the transition from MeeGo to Android would be much easier and that Nokia would have a competitive Android phone (and a very good one) now instead of a WP7 phone in September or October. You have no idea about how fast a com…

> If things were all going to be hunky-dory as you claim,

I don't remember saying that. Nokia was doomed. Now, with Elop, it's even more doomed.

> and got a cash infusion of upwards of a billion for that

That's his only excuse

> All this was needed for survival interim while they rush out new devices. Android would've provided none of that.

Except a viable competitor. WP7 has, so far, failed to gain traction despite Microsoft's efforts. Nobody but Elop is betting on it.

> Atleast with WP7, Nokia is not competing with bargain basement Chinese phones

Do you really believe Motorola, HTC, Samsung and the other Android manufacturers are competing with them?

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#318

Post by bad_user »

kenjackson wrote: post #260
ZeroGravitas wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not his son though, it's a grown man that he legally adopted simply to gain control of some land rights and which he promptly signed over to help build a railway. Google's more likely to throw Motorola under the bus to advance Android than vice versa. Having Android on 80% of all devices is worth it.

The problem is, to get off of the analogy, that Google will be very tempted to design a great iPhone compete device. It's no secret that the iPhone is the best HW/SW integration on the market. For the first time Google can actually build something with no compromises w/ respect to Android. I think Google's next play will be telling. Will they: 1) Buy a HW design/integration company - ala Intrinsity. or 2) Spin off Mo…

     Google will be very tempted to design a great
     iPhone compete device
Past experience shows that Google doesn't have it in their DNA to build something akin to the iPhone. And the iPhone isn't great just because of how it feels, it's the customers service too. It would be stupid if they tried.

No, your best bet for an iPhone killer is Samsung, if only they would pull their head out of their ass for a moment and realize that the SG II is a disappointment as far as software goes and they should just install the original Android on it. Samsung should just focus on their strengths and let Google worry about the software.

This is Google's best approach - their stated goal for Android was to increase competition in the mobiles market. This strategy worked well (after all, their products are now distributed on most smartphones sold, what else could they want?) and they should just continue this strategy with Motorola -- and let Samsung and HTC compete directly with Apple, making Motorola release good products from time to time, just to keep them under fire.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#319

Post by yangtheman »

ericd wrote: post #212
podperson wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope you're right. But Google has certainly sold it to its Android partners as "we're going to use their patents to defend your crapware-ridden half-assed locked down handsets and then smother the hardware people with this wet pillow": http://www.google.com/press/motorola/quotes/

Wow, those quotes all sound the same... it's almost eerie. We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem. We welcome the news of today‘s acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem. I welcome Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners. We welcome…

I read the responses, and I felt exactly the same way. The news has been shared with the partners beforehand and all PR responses have been choreographed. I don't know what they would do exactly, though, since Android is the best mobile OS choice they have. Can't touch IOS. Windows Mobile sucks. Symbian is going away. Not an easy place to be.

Re: Google Buys Motorola For $12.5 Billion

#320

Post by [deleted] »

ericd wrote: post #212
podperson wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope you're right. But Google has certainly sold it to its Android partners as "we're going to use their patents to defend your crapware-ridden half-assed locked down handsets and then smother the hardware people with this wet pillow": http://www.google.com/press/motorola/quotes/

Wow, those quotes all sound the same... it's almost eerie. We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem. We welcome the news of today‘s acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem. I welcome Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners. We welcome…

[deleted]
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