BOMBSHELL: Google Buying Handset Maker Motorola Mobility For $12.5 Billion

Feuer Frei! · 08-15-11, 10:13 PM

Google is buying handset maker Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in cash. That's a 61% premium.
Needless to say this is a game-changer in the mobile world, as Google moves down the stack, and is no longer just an operating system provider meaning it competes directly with Apple as well as the various other handset makers who currently use Android.
What's more, one of the biggest arguments in favor of Apple's continued to dominance is that without a complete end-to-end "stack", no other platform could compete with its integrated software/hardware setup.
Bear in mind that Google has over $35 billion in cash, so this answers one question about what they'll do with it. The company still has tons more dry powder.

Other handset makers, like RIMM and Nokia are both up pre-market on the news as the focus obviously turns to Microsoft: Is it now forced to buy one of them? Or does Microsoft benefit because the remaining handset makers (Samsung, etc.) now turn more towards Windows?
Another angle that will be scrutinized is MMI's patent portfolio, and how that plays out.
That's one of the key points made by Larry Page in his post on the subject:
We recently explained how companies including Microsoft and Apple are banding together in anti-competitive patent attacks on Android. The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to “protect competition and innovation in the open source software community” and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction. Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.

SOURCE

Anthony W. · 08-15-11, 10:44 PM

Well considering I want to get into technology stock (and Apple is way too high priced for me - something like 1000 per share when I last looked), I'm thinking Google Mobile will be a good alternative.

Must watch this. Google may be the new Apple. I hope it is. I'm not a fan of Mac (tho their hand held devices are unbelievable, and despite my scoffing at the iPad, I now enjoy using my friends' to the point that I need to buy my own) so I'll be glad to see someone challenging them.

joea · 08-16-11, 03:41 AM

Competition is good as long as neither Google nor Apple end up becoming the new Microsoft. What worries me about Google has its fingers in so many pies though, in addition to all the private info they hold.*

*Still MUCH better than Facebook.

08-15-11, 10:13 PM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	BOMBSHELL: Google Buying Handset Maker Motorola Mobility For $12.5 Billion Google is buying handset maker Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in cash. That's a 61% premium. Needless to say this is a game-changer in the mobile world, as Google moves down the stack, and is no longer just an operating system provider meaning it competes directly with Apple as well as the various other handset makers who currently use Android. What's more, one of the biggest arguments in favor of Apple's continued to dominance is that without a complete end-to-end "stack", no other platform could compete with its integrated software/hardware setup. Bear in mind that Google has over $35 billion in cash, so this answers one question about what they'll do with it. The company still has tons more dry powder. Other handset makers, like RIMM and Nokia are both up pre-market on the news as the focus obviously turns to Microsoft: Is it now forced to buy one of them? Or does Microsoft benefit because the remaining handset makers (Samsung, etc.) now turn more towards Windows? Another angle that will be scrutinized is MMI's patent portfolio, and how that plays out. That's one of the key points made by Larry Page in his post on the subject: We recently explained how companies including Microsoft and Apple are banding together in anti-competitive patent attacks on Android. The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to “protect competition and innovation in the open source software community” and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction. Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies. SOURCE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

08-15-11, 10:44 PM	#2
Anthony W. Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 850 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	Well considering I want to get into technology stock (and Apple is way too high priced for me - something like 1000 per share when I last looked), I'm thinking Google Mobile will be a good alternative. Must watch this. Google may be the new Apple. I hope it is. I'm not a fan of Mac (tho their hand held devices are unbelievable, and despite my scoffing at the iPad, I now enjoy using my friends' to the point that I need to buy my own) so I'll be glad to see someone challenging them. __________________ Sunken Mustangs Proud Ford Mustang owner "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" - Admiral David Farragut Run silent - run deep - keep the baffles clear - targets front and center. Private pilot and history buff

08-16-11, 03:41 AM	#3
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Competition is good as long as neither Google nor Apple end up becoming the new Microsoft. What worries me about Google has its fingers in so many pies though, in addition to all the private info they hold.* *Still MUCH better than Facebook.