Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion

Written by Antony Leather

August 15, 2011 | 16:36

Tags: #android #apple-iphone #google-android #ios

Companies: #google #htc #motorola

Google announced today that it is to buy handset manufacturer Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion or £7.7 billion.

In one of the biggest moves in the mobile phone market this year, an article posted earlier today on Yahoo's Finance News section, states the purchase as enabling Google to 'supercharge the Android ecosystem'.

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, added:
'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 move sees Google create an end-to-end 'stack', where, as a whole, it is involved in both the manufacture of handsets as well their operating system. Combined with the Android Marketplace, Google is now in a position to be able to compete directly with Apple.

Apple has designed its own mobile handsets and operating system since the release of the first iPhone in 2007, as well as owning the highly successful iTunes App Store.

Motorola split into two separate companies earlier this year - Mobility develops and manufactures mobile handsets, many of which use Google's Android operating system, while Motorola Solutions covers wider technologies for corporate customers and governments.

What do you make of the move? Do you think Google will be able reign in Apple? Let us know in the forum.
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