[Tim Budong]

should probably go in phone news..but this is bigger than that

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility - Google Investor Relations (http://investor.google.com/releases/2011/0815.html)

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and LIBERTYVILLE, IL – AUGUST 15, 2011 – Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

[BBMme]

This is going to be crazy!
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[Culverin]

motorola = locked bootloaders
and trying to hold back android versions.

not no more suckas

:devil:

[dangonay]

Also a thread here.

http://www.revscene.net/forums/651668-google-buys-motorola.html#post7545760
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[Nvasion]

google gonna buy out everything....

[fs604]

Google = future
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[murd0c]

Also a thread here.

http://www.revscene.net/forums/651668-google-buys-motorola.html#post7545760
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wow both threads were made exactly at 5:15 :fullofwin:

[Carl Johnson]

Google = future
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They have their work cut out for them with Apple. I wouldn't bet the farm yet.

[SkinnyPupp]

SUX 2B HTC

And Samsung, LG, Huawei, Sony, etc, etc, etc

[Culverin]

I think the point is they've got about 20,000 patents (given and pending) in their portfolio now for mobile tech. I think it's just going to come down to a settlement with apple. Cause I bet there's more motorola tech they licensed out than that idiotic touch screen patent of theirs. And how the galaxy S looks like the iphone. A couple of we'll let you use "antennaes for this" and google won't just be even, they'll have a lot of leverage.

Also, HTC is taiwanese, ditto with foxconn and asus. The latter 2 seem to be thriving, despite undergoing some major restructuring in recent years. I'm sure HTC will pull through and continue in a niche.


Has google ever done the "this is our license, you can't use it" thing before? They seem very, "sure, we don't mind you using it as long as we get a cut". Just curious if you guys might have some info on that.

[krazynuck]

damn wish i owned motorola stock

[G]

SO IT BEGINS

[CRS]

SO IT BEGINS

Skynet has up and running and we didn't even realize it...

[roastpuff]

I'm still waiting for RIM to be bought out by Google. Integrating the bb business backend into android would be MADNESS!
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[bcrdukes]

I'm still waiting for RIM to be bought out by Google. Integrating the bb business backend into android would be MADNESS!
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You're kidding, right? :rofl:

[Carl Johnson]

I'm still waiting for RIM to be bought out by Google. Integrating the bb business backend into android would be MADNESS!
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http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/347250/NotSureIfSerious.jpg

[Simplex123]

I'm still waiting for RIM to be bought out by Google. Integrating the bb business backend into android would be MADNESS!
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lol.

[akira112]

So will the Nexus series be Moto designed from now on?

[drunkrussian]

android was already set to beat RIM and Apple in the next few years..this is just one of many future moves allowing this to take place. I'm a big fan of apple, but the same partner-hating, proprietary model that has given them their scucess, will soon lead to their demise

[TOS'd]

End of world is near..

[CP.AR]

taking over the fucking world!

[haha13]

stage 1 of skynet: COMMENCED !

[Presto]

It's gonna be more like Syndicate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndicate_%28video_game%29). Rival megacorporations will acquire/hang on to power via assassinations, infiltration and persuasion!

[dangonay]

So are mods gonna merge the two threads? :)

[dignatas]

SO IT BEGINS

It Begins! - YouTube

[avinayyar]

SO IT BEGINS

Appropriate Sound track..


THE DARK KNIGHT Theme Music - GET HYPED FOR "DARK KNIGHT RISES"! - YouTube

[tiger_handheld]

why do i foresee an anti trust lawsuit?

[bloodmack]

I don't remember the last time i saw a motorola phone :lol

[MindBomber]

I invested my life savings in Google on the day of it's IPO and got in at $85 a share. 700% return on my investment in four years and climbing!


:fuckyea:

[murd0c]

how much was your life savings tho?

[k3mps]

nokia has old hardware and has been dropping if im correct. (not anymore i guess)
wouldn't this also benefit samsung, htc, etc. that use android os since Nokia has a license for Javamobile, made by oracle which has ties to Microsoft.
this takes a big shot at WP7

[optiblue]

I remember back in days when I was playing with cellphones. Motorola was a pain the the butt trying to even get that thing connected to the comptuer via usb. Apple all the way :)

[Culverin]

I don't think apple uses USB on their phones.

non-proprietary connectors all the way. :D

[MindBomber]

how much was your life savings tho?

I'm not sure if your trying to imply something, but it was a pretty respectable sum for someone in their early twenties to be investing and that's all anyone aside from myself and my partner needs to know.

All I intended to say in my post was, I had a good feeling about google when the IPO was announced because of how well they engaged the market with search and the ease of use of, so I took a risk that had a great result.


I'm still waiting for RIM to be bought out by Google. Integrating the bb business backend into android would be MADNESS!
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Clearly your not the only one who feels that way, RIM shares rallied today at speculation google might be interested.

[StylinRed]

Microsoft was supposedly close to a deal with Motorola too (similar to Nokia deal billions of dollars to run WP7) and Google swept in for their Patents, which motorola had been flaunting



I invested my life savings in Google on the day of it's IPO and got in at $85 a share. 700% return on my investment in four years and climbing!


:fuckyea:

i remember thinking the shares were ridiculously priced and that they wouldn't stay high... :okay:

[MindBomber]

i remember thinking the shares were ridiculously priced and that they wouldn't stay high... :okay:

I very nearly sold around $450 a share and am still tempted to do so now, but I just keep coming back to fact that google has seen nothing but increased success for years. It's like the success of Apple, they're delivering a great end user experience so I can't see their market share doing anything but growing.

[seakrait]

It's gonna be more like Syndicate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndicate_%28video_game%29).

I was just thinking about this game today! I was wondering whether I could DL it and get it to run on my comp. hahahhaha... :fullofwin:

also, i'm in the apple camp for now. google, though impressive, hasn't quite won me over...

[BaoTurbo]

I very nearly sold around $450 a share and am still tempted to do so now, but I just keep coming back to fact that google has seen nothing but increased success for years. It's like the success of Apple, they're delivering a great end user experience so I can't see their market share doing anything but growing.

If only when I was in elementary school using those Apple Macintosh retarded slow computers, realized that Apple could be the future, I would be pretty balling by now. If only.........:okay:

[Majestic12]

I wish it was the other way around, and Motorola paired with Microsoft and Google bought out Nokia.

Nokia hardware is by far the best, and it would've been great paired with Android software.

[sonick]

Interesting article, suggesting the acquisition of Motorola isn't solely for their mobile phone patents and technology, rather their cable/tv set top boxes: Did Google Just Turn Motorola Into the New Super-TiVo? | Epicenter | Wired.com (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/08/did-google-just-turn-motorola-into-the-new-super-tivo)

[Tim Budong]

Interesting article, suggesting the acquisition of Motorola isn't solely for their mobile phone patents and technology, rather their cable/tv set top boxes: Did Google Just Turn Motorola Into the New Super-TiVo? | Epicenter$| Wired.com (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/08/did-google-just-turn-motorola-into-the-new-super-tivo)

thats the thing..the entire line of googleproducts or what google has envisioned for the future could be jumpstarted by the acquisition of Motorola.

Google TV? Google Voice anyone?!

[StylinRed]

I wish it was the other way around, and Motorola paired with Microsoft and Google bought out Nokia.

Nokia hardware is by far the best, and it would've been great paired with Android software.

Meego more linux kernel like than android; runs android apps; (you can unlock it within settings) Nokia N9

[goo3]

android was already set to beat RIM and Apple in the next few years..this is just one of many future moves allowing this to take place. I'm a big fan of apple, but the same partner-hating, proprietary model that has given them their scucess, will soon lead to their demise

No it won't. Both companies will continue to make billions because they're great, innovative engineering companies. At the end of the day, the consumer couldn't give two shits about some ideological battle between nerds.

[dangonay]

Copied from my other post:

Since Motorola was considering suing other Android handset manufacturers for infringing on their IP, this was almost a necessary move by Google. Several analysts were predicting this, although it happened sooner than people expected.

It's only a matter of time before companies like Samsung and LG sue other Android handset makers for also infringing their IP. Toshiba, HP and Dell all make laptops and all run Windows. If Dell copied IP from Toshiba, then Toshiba would definitely go after Dell even though they both use the same OS. Why would it be any different for the phone manufacturers just because they run Android? They make their money on hardware sales, and as corporations they're in business to increase their sales at the expense of their competitors.

Samsung isn't just competing against Apple and Microsoft - they're also competing against all the other Android phone manufacturers. Just because they run the same OS doesn't mean they're all "one big happy family". They're corporations out to make money and take sales away from anyone who competes against them.

The "official" responses from LG, HTC and others are quite funny. I bet they're pissed right now. They have to be wondering if Motorola would get advanced looks at upcoming Google software technology now that Motorola is part of Google. Or will Motorola now be the only supplier for upcoming "Nexus" phones. Or will Google put the latest and greatest in their own phones first?



Also, Apple and MS are in the final stages of their lawsuits against Motorola (they filed last year). Analysts predict that both Apple and MS will come out ahead (either with an outright win, or in a better position and able to get money or licensing fees from Motorola). If Motorola's 17,000 patents couldn't hold off Apple and MS before, then how is it going to get any better now that Google owns them?

[drunkrussian]

No it won't. Both companies will continue to make billions because they're great, innovative engineering companies. At the end of the day, the consumer couldn't give two shits about some ideological battle between nerds.

of course they'll make billions. Do you think the ceo of a company goes "oh as long as we make billions it's fine"? They want market share, growth, MORE billions. Not ideological at all, just business.

My perosnal opinion is that just like a tiny few companies dominate the market right now, so will they in the future. However i personally think android will take over this slice, slowly but surely.

[FerrariEnzo]

ive said it once, so i say it again.. Google is going to open their own phone service.. signs are pointing to it..

next they are looking to purchase wind and mobi... haha.. i dont think they have enough fund to buy Robelus...

[drunkrussian]

^if google makes wind and mobi better but at the same price im so fucking therr
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[goo3]

of course they'll make billions. Do you think the ceo of a company goes "oh as long as we make billions it's fine"?

Yes.

The consumer pays for quality products that meet their needs. Open-source or closed-integrated models have some different characteristics. But from the point of view of the end-user, this is like arguing why a CDMA network is better than a GSM one when all they care about is drop calls, voice quality, and phone selection. Nerd-talk. Nothing more.


It's only a matter of time before companies like Samsung and LG sue other Android handset makers for also infringing their IP. Toshiba, HP and Dell all make laptops and all run Windows. If Dell copied IP from Toshiba, then Toshiba would definitely go after Dell even though they both use the same OS. Why would it be any different for the phone manufacturers just because they run Android? They make their money on hardware sales, and as corporations they're in business to increase their sales at the expense of their competitors.

Samsung isn't just competing against Apple and Microsoft - they're also competing against all the other Android phone manufacturers. Just because they run the same OS doesn't mean they're all "one big happy family". They're corporations out to make money and take sales away from anyone who competes against them.


Their primary competitors are the other platforms. Growing Android first without the in-fighting is in their best self-interests, especially if you consider who they're up against. History tells me they already realize this is a preferable business strategy compared to shooting yourself in the foot. Besides, I don't see any of these guys doing anything revolutionary on the hardware side.


Also, Apple and MS are in the final stages of their lawsuits against Motorola (they filed last year). Analysts predict that both Apple and MS will come out ahead (either with an outright win, or in a better position and able to get money or licensing fees from Motorola). If Motorola's 17,000 patents couldn't hold off Apple and MS before, then how is it going to get any better now that Google owns them?

If this is for the XOOM, Moto's radio patents aren't gonna help them here.

[dangonay]

Their primary competitors are the other platforms. Growing Android first without the in-fighting is in their best self-interests, especially if you consider who they're up against. History tells me they already realize this is a preferable business strategy compared to shooting yourself in the foot. Besides, I don't see any of these guys doing anything revolutionary on the hardware side.
I think it's safe to say the Android platform has already "grown" and they're well past the phase of "playing nice" in order to gain market share. If someone posed the question of in-fighting two weeks ago people would have scoffed. Then Motorola's CEO admitted the idea of using its IP against other Android makers as a way to "differentiate" itself from other vendors.

The bottom line is these companies exist to make money - not to play nice. It was a shock to see Motorola even suggest using its IP against other Android developers. They can't be the only ones who thought about the idea. I doubt Samsung is going to fight with LG (or that Motorola itself would have gone after Samsung or LG). But the 30+ smaller Android licensed vendors probably aren't very happy about the idea since they have nothing (relatively speaking) in terms of IP. Probably why several of them have already signed royalty agreements with Microsoft (at last count, 5 not including HTC).

If this is for the XOOM, Moto's radio patents aren't gonna help them here.
Nothing to do with the XOOM. Apple and MS went after Motorola long before the XOOM was even a rumor. Google has stated they bought Motorola to "better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies."

If those 17,000 patents couldn't help Motorola fend off Apple and MS, then how will it change simply because Motorola changed hands? Motorola's patnet portfolio may be huge, but it's not as good as people think.

Now the price of InterDigital has gone way down since there was speculation that Apple, MS and Google were going to have a bidding war over their portfolio. Now I bet Apple or MS will get InterDigital for a sale price. In a way, Google paying for Motorola has just saved the buyer of InterDigital a lot of money.

[drunkrussian]

Yes.

The consumer pays for quality products that meet their needs. Open-source or closed-integrated models have some different characteristics. But from the point of view of the end-user, this is like arguing why a CDMA network is better than a GSM one when all they care about is drop calls, voice quality, and phone selection. Nerd-talk. Nothing more.

^ i think this is an overly simplistic way of looking at it. i really think apple has paid millions if not billions into literally making their brand hip; its not just about technology. its the same as why blackberries are so popular with the lg and lb market - iphone makes a lot more sense for them, but they get what they perceive as cooler. theyre not alone.

same with google - for years they have become "the" innovative company in the consumer space. and in the corporate space (which is HUGE) gartner, forrester and other leading analyss have all leaned on android for the future. and when a corporation buyw or leases phones/computers, they have an analyst like this on retainer, advising them what to get. and trust me, they listen. remember how rim got big - they grabbed corporate first and then consumers followed.

so i dont think future success is all about the technology, unfortunately
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[chopstickz]

Microsoft is being kicked out, they better come out with something crazy fast, all the Smartphones + Tablets domination.

I bet next Nexus phone is gona be Motorola...