On Android, Google and Motorola

Posted by Fred Oliveira on August 15, 2011 | Comments (5)

The big news of the day is that Google has made a bid to acquire Motorola. This deal has tons of implications and Techmeme is a great source of information if you’re looking for the financial background, patent discussion or punditry on this matter. But I couldn’t help but cringe for a number of other companies this morning. When I first heard of this announcement, I tweeted the following:

Google buying Motorola is a good move – unless you’ve been building phones for Android. In that case, this makes you a 2nd class citizen.

And it pretty much sums up my thoughts. A number of reactions from CEOs of phone manufacturers who have been betting on Android have emerged through official channels, but I can’t help but think that a slightly modified wording of ‘We welcome Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners’ isn’t exactly what these people have in mind. They have just become second class citizens on something they were betting hard on.

There’s no question in my mind that Google’s notion of open when it comes to Android has been weird for a long time, but I think this is another huge nail in that open casket (easy pun, I know). Are we supposed to believe that there’s going to be a similar treatment going into this division coming from Motorola and partners like HTC? I’d like to think so, but I have to admit my hopes are not up.

I love Google and I love the idea of Android, but I can’t help but feel like this was a bad move. Easily justified by the enormous patent portfolio Motorola Mobility comes with, but still. I’m not sure this shows “a commitment to defending Android and its partners”. Especially the partners.

Comments on this post

*If* Google keeps the companies separate and doesn’t benefit Motorola over other partners, as it said, then it’s no different for them.

*If* Google uses it’s now massive patent portfolio to defend other partners (HTC from Microsoft, Samsung from Microsoft/Apple, for instance), then it will surely benefit all of them.

Let’s see how this goes.

Do they really care about being 2nd class citizens? There was a big emphasis on the conference call that came afterwards in assuring Motorola would still be run as a separate business and the Nexus phones would still be built by whichever company better fits the requirements, among other assurances Google made it pretty clear no one was being given the advantage or disadvantage, but that’s what was said.

The other handset makers reactions were obviously scripted and not much thought was put into it or revealed, but anyhoo, I don’t think this is a bad move, Android will stil remain open, Motorola will still have to pay a fee for using the google apps and bound to other regulations, by not having an advantage in the Nexus phone series it won’t benefit from google-backed marketing even.

I dunno, would like to see you better explain why will Samsung or HTC be harmed by this acquisition other than speculation. Also, have in mind that Samsung and HTC, although having invested in Android, always have their backup plan seeping in through the cracks and like to make sure they also have brand awareness besides Android with their proprietary experience – HTC Sense and online services, Samsung TouchWiz and online services, blah.

What am I missing?

Oh, and I believe this deal brings in stability to the Android platform now that google is in the mix of Apple vs Android battle. If anything, handset makers have the assurance the creator of Android is serious about making sure it’s still a viable option for a mobile OS.

Why everyone is talking about the mobile business and not mentioning the Set Tob Box part of the deal? The latter is a major hit from Google per si. I believe the next tech battleground will be the TV set, and Google is creating a big army for the battle.

Oh yeah, and you got some patents in the process… neat.

I like how fair and balanced this analysis is. I think that’s pretty much what’s on the table right now.

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