Why exactly did Google buy Motorola?

[mammador]

I'm thinking these reasons may apply:

- better control of Android
- entering smartphone manufacturing, and speed of entry
- perhaps making a dedicated Google phone line, alongside the existing Motorola brand. So phones like the Nexus 1 and 2 will be the norm (who knows)?

 

[Belegost]

IP to force Apple into cross-licensing agreements.

 

[mnewsham]

To avoid lawsuits (they acquire 17k+ patents), to make a true "vanilla" android experience, and to allow a "real" google phone. Now if they had just outbid AT&T for Tmobile :hmm:

 

[smartpatrol]

In the near term? For the patents.

In the long run? To become more Apple-like. They would love to have complete control of the hardware, software, and ecosystem for Android. Apple is the most valuable company in the world. They have 66% of the smartphone profit share. Don't tell me that Google is just going to treat Motorola like a neutral 3rd-party handset partner. They won't be able to resist the promise of Apple-like profits for long.

 

[mnewsham]

In the near term? For the patents.

In the long run? To become more Apple-like. They would love to have complete control of the hardware, software, and ecosystem for Android. Apple is the most valuable company in the world. They have 66% of the smartphone profit share. Don't tell me that Google is just going to treat Motorola like a neutral 3rd-party handset partner. They won't be able to resist the promise of Apple-like profits for long.

Ding Ding Ding.

 

[jpeyton]

IP to force Apple into cross-licensing agreements.

:thumbsup:

 

[mammador]

In the near term? For the patents.

In the long run? To become more Apple-like. They would love to have complete control of the hardware, software, and ecosystem for Android. Apple is the most valuable company in the world. They have 66% of the smartphone profit share. Don't tell me that Google is just going to treat Motorola like a neutral 3rd-party handset partner. They won't be able to resist the promise of Apple-like profits for long.

But HTC and Samsung have Android phones too, so how can Google get total control of software and hardware?

 

[funks]

Hmmm, couple of things.. Patents to protect the android ecosystem, and motorola makes a whole bunch of cable boxes.. Google TV preloaded anyone? Television is a lucrative market advertising wise.

 

[Powermoloch]

simple



















patents

 

[Pliablemoose]

To freak us all the hell out..

 

[shortylickens]

So they can make a flagship phone for future iterations of Android.
They shoulda had their own flagship phone to begin with, ditto Microsoft. Complaints of fragmentation are killing their PR.

 

[Dulanic]

They bought it to make their own phones duh 😛 Kidding.... as others have said patents is a big reason. However, many do fail to realise there are other parts of Motorola Mobility. Google bought their TV and networking products too and this could have a strong impact on television devices also. This also would include tablets also.

Overall, I am looking forward to google having a strong impact on the hardware side.

 

[Doboji]

World Domination step #46

 

[smartpatrol]

But HTC and Samsung have Android phones too, so how can Google get total control of software and hardware?

Google could always refuse to open-source future versions of Android and make Motorola the exclusive manufacturer of Android devices.

I'm not saying this is going to happen tomorrow. I would not be the least bit surprised to see it happen in the next couple of years, though. Especially with companies like Amazon removing the parts of Android that generate money for Google (i.e. app store and search) and replacing them with something that makes money for themselves.