Google buys Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion

Google buys Motorola Mobility

Google has announced the purchase of Motorola Mobility in a deal worth approximately $12.5 billion.

Motorola, already a key Google Android partner and the manufacturer of the Xoom tablet, will continue to be run as a separate business.

Google claims the deal will "supercharge the Android ecosystem and enhance competition in mobile computing".

The Motorola Xoom was one of the first Android 3.0 tablets – the first Google operating software designed specifically for tablets – and was said to be designed in close partnership with Google.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said: “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies.

Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers.”

Android remains an open platform
Google was eager to point out that Android would remain an open platform and all partners would continue to be supported.

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “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.”

As a result, other Android partners, HTC, LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, rallied around the deal, issuing similar quotes highlighting support for "Google‘s commitment to defending Android and its partners".

It's another twist in the huge battle for portable supremacy between Android and Apple's iOS.

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Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).