5 Questions About Google’s Motorola Buy

Google has agreed to acquire Motorola Mobility to "pressurise the Mechanical man ecosystem" and protect Android against aggressive patent litigation from competitors such as Orchard apple tree and Microsoft, according to company CEO Larry Sri Frederick Handley Page. If the take meets regulatory blessing, the search giant will own unrivaled of its nearest Android partners for a sales event price around $12.5 billion. Google said Android leave remain an nonunion platform and that Motorola will atomic number 4 run as a separate business. Motorola has produced many high profile Android devices such as the Motorola Droid, Cliq, Atrix 4G and the recent Motorola Xoom tablet.

The strategic acquisition could work in Google's favor when confronting patent issues, but a big unanswered question is how Android partners volition react to Goog-orola in the long terminus. Here are 5 questions at the top of my mind roughly Google's Motorola purchase:

Will Google's patent play work?

Motorola Mobility has to a higher degree 14,600 patents with nearly 7000 other patent applications pending worldwide, according to the company Website. That's a pretty tremendous arsenal that could provide Google or s purchase to countersue competitors should the late Humanoid patent wars continue.

HTC, maker of the Evo, Desire and other Android devices, recently squandered a apparent suit to Apple and previously agreed to license a number of patents from Microsoft to protect its Android business. Microsoft in June signed patent of invention licensing deals with Speed Micro, a small maker of Humanoid-founded tablets and e-readers, and defense heavyweight General Dynamics for its utilise of Android. The Windows Call Almighty in June said Samsung should earnings Microsoft $15 for every Android phone the company produces, and Microsoft in October went later Motorola for patent infringement. Android is as wel under attack from major technology players such A Oracle, which recently brought a cause against Google concluded Humanoid.

With so many looming patent problems, Google clearly had to do something to protect itself and its Humanoid partners. The big question is whether Motorola has sufficient patents to ensure Mechanical man's competitors will stop suing and asking for royalties.

Did Google Buy Motorola To Protect Android From Motorola?

It may not be clear how efficacious Motorola's patent portfolio will be against Malus pumila, Microsoft, Oracle and others, but at to the lowest degree Motorola Mobility reportedly believes in the strength of its patents. Less than a calendar week ago, Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha hinted that his company might use its patent portfolio to go after other Humanoid makers, reported to Unwired View. That's an interesting thing to do, especially just six years before Google buys your company.

Will Motorola's Favored Status Have To Change?

Motorola wasn't rightful whatsoever old Android partner; the two companies have worked closely together for several old age. Motorola was first to use Honeycomb –the first Android OS spirit built specifically for tablets–on its Motorola Xoom. Motorola was besides responsible for the Droid, a turning point Android twist that helped propel Mechanical man into the preponderant position the platform holds today. Nigh two years ago, IDG News rumored along Motorola's admittedly close relationship with Google.

But will that have to shift if Google's Motorola acquisition is approved? Google may develop itself into trouble with other Android vendors if Motorola ends up being the first maker to found with every spic-and-span iteration of the Mechanical man OS going forward. Page says Google will flow from Motorola A a separate business that licenses Android, and Android will rest an open platform available to otherwise vendors. Information technology will be engrossing to see just how independent a Google-owned Motorola would be.

Is This The End Of Motoblur?

One of the problems with Humanoid is that numerous handset makers examine and put their notice on Google's moveable OS with a variety of overlays such as HTC Sense, Samsung TouchWiz and Motorola's ain Motoblur. Wish Google use Motorola as a showcase for the vanilla reading of Android without entirely that handset maker nonsense? That was Google's finish with the Nexus and Nexus S, and the search titan may make up tempted to do the same matter with Motorola's entire phone batting order.

What Are Android Makers Locution?

Right now, it appears that Android makers such Eastern Samoa HTC, LG and Sony Ericsson are happy to see Google acquire Motorola Mobility. Google has a posted a turn of quotes from the CEOs of the three French telephone manufacturers, completely of which are a variation on welcoming "Google's commitment to defending Android and its partners." So right now, IT appears handset makers are happy to see Google obtain a number of patents that could shield Android from further patent litigation. But we'll have to see whether this probationary reenforcement for Google's patent war chest wish hold erst Motorola is a Google-closely-held company.

Tie in with Ian St. Paul (@ianpaul ) and Now@PCWorld on Chitter for the current technical school news and psychoanalysis.