Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Google says buying Motorola won’t put it in the handset business

By
motorola-droid-razr
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Speaking during an interview at All Things Digital’s AsiaD conference, Google’s Android chief Andy Rubin said that Google’s move to buy Motorola Mobility isn’t about Google getting into the mobile handset business: Google plans to let a Google-owned version of Motorola operate “at arm’s length.” Instead, Rubin positioned the acquisition as being all about patents, noting that Motorola’s mobile technology patent portfolio should help shore up the Android platform as it faces major challenges from the likes of Oracle and (indirectly, for now) Apple and Microsoft.

“I don’t think you should consider Google’s acquisition of Motorola as Google entering the hardware business,” Rubin said in the interview. “This is going to be an arm’s length thing [..] Motorola isn’t going to get any special treatment.”

Recommended Videos

Google’s pending $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility has sparked concern in the Android community, sparking speculation that a Motorola-owned Google will get first access to the Android development process, thereby getting an edge on other Android device makers. And, indeed, major Android handset makers are starting to hedge their bets, with Samsung investing more in its own Bada OS and both Samsung and HTC taking a look at Tizen, the latest incarnation of Intel’s Moblin and MeeGo technologies.

Related

Industry watchers have also speculated that Google’s acquisition of Motorola would essentially mean Google would treat Motorola as its own handset division, enabling the company to create vertically-developed Android products in the same manner Apple creates both the hardware and operating system for its mobile devices. Again, such a scenario would leave third-party Android developers out in the cold.

Instead, Rubin insists the Motorola acquisition is mainly about patents and securing Android’s future as a free and open operating system—even though many in the industry question just how “free” and “open” Android actually is. Android is facing substantial patent challenges: Microsoft is convincing more and more Android device developers to pay royalties on Android products to shield themselves from possible future litigation, and Oracle already has Google in court over Android’s Java technology. Similarly, Apple’s patent battle with HTC is largely viewed as a proxy for Apple suing Google directly over Android—and, so far, it’s not going well for HTC.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Save on the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Fold today
A person holding the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Google's Pixel smartphones are among the best Android phones that you can buy today. They offer smooth performance and sleek designs, and they're among the first devices to receive Android updates. If you're interested, the three current-generation models -- the Google Pixel 8, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, and the Google Pixel Fold -- are all available for lower-than-usual prices from Best Buy. There's always high demand for Google Pixel deals so stocks probably won't last long, so if any of these phone deals catch your attention, you'll want to proceed with the purchase right away.
Google Pixel 8 (128GB) -- $499, was $699

The Google Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch Actua OLED touchscreen that's bright and colorful, the Google Tensor G3 processor with 8GB of RAM for smooth performance, and a rear camera system with a 50MP wide lens and 12MP ultrawide lens. The smartphone ships with Android 14, which is the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, and its Adaptive Battery can last for more than 24 hours -- and even up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode activated.

Read more
Foldable phone deals: Samsung, Motorola, Google, and more, from $500
Motorola Razr Plus and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 in hand with cover display turned on.

Now's a great time to buy a foldable phone because of the discounts that are available through phone deals from Motorola and Best Buy. If you've been following the recent resurgence of stylish and functional folding phones from brands like Motorola, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus, don't miss this chance at huge savings. If any of the bargains below catch your eye, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right away, because for some of these offers, tomorrow may already be too late.
Motorola Razr 2023 (128GB) -- $500, was $700

The Motorola Razr 2023 is the most affordable option in this list, but it offers everything that you would expect from a foldable phone. It's lightweight and compact when folded, with notifications and other essential information displayed on its 1.5-inch OLED cover screen, but it features a 6.9-inch Full HD+ pOLED inner display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The Motorola Razr 2023 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM, and it has a a 64MP main camera and a 13MP wide-angle camera at the back.

Read more
Motorola’s new Android phone looks amazing, but there’s a catch
motorola edge 50 Pro rear shell.

Earlier today, Motorola introduced a new premium phone in the Edge series, and from the looks of it, this could be one of the most value-centric phones of 2024. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, which flaunts a fresh design language, marked its arrival in the Indian market with a price tag of roughly $385. For a limited spell, it will be sold at approximately $335, which is nothing short of stunning.

At that asking price, you won’t find a phone in the U.S. market that can match the hardware prowess and the fine looks of Motorola’s latest phone. We are talking about sleek curved glass aesthetics, a metallic frame, and a vegan leather finish available in a beautiful lavender shade.

Read more