What does Google owning Motorola mean to the industry?

Courtesy of comScore

When people think of handsets today, a majority of the handset owning bunch will think of information. The information they need to retrieve from the device they own. How much information you're able to pull from that device mostly depends on what type of device you own and the types of applications the device is capable of running plus or minus some fragmentation here and there. That leads us directly into our main point here.

What really does Google owning Motorola mean for the device industry?

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It's not a minor question. This is a BIG deal. The landscape reshapes on this deal. I know, it seems as if were beating a dead horse here at DigitalSolace, but we will be a dead horse for the sake of you're smartphone needs. So why not have a smartphone geek explain it all, right?

The Extremely Good


Google officially marches themselves into the game. For those of you who own Nexus One and Nexus S phones, you are all too familiar with the Google way of doing things. Even at the Android phone level. Make a product and get it out there. Even if it's not the most polished. Just go for it. Some of you may argue with this concept, but it's a proven winner. Just making sure it works better than a Blackberry is a great bar to start with. I don't care how long an Android software release will remain in beta mode. It's still 50 times better in operations than a Blackberry. Now you get your software releases when Google says their ready to go on plain vanilla Android. The OEM/Device makers are a huge part of the problem. They look at vanilla Android as if it's a problem. But I do understand their dilemma. Samsung has to make a product that can differentiate from HTC & LG when it comes to all of their Android offerings. Understandable, but these software skins are bloat on a phone. The worst of them all Motorblur's coming absence is an undeniable win for all, Google included.

The Good


I as a Verizon Wireless customer can finally have a Nexus or Nexus like phone. We'll get into the carriers in a upcoming story but I have to point out that Verizon Wireless is not going to pass up on plain vanilla Motorola devices just because Google picked up the $12.5 billion tab to buy Moto. That would be a lack of true foresight. Motorola holds 30% of the Android game right now, second only to HTC. The numbers are impressive and their relationship with Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha can be considered as peas in a pod. He's likely to remain on as mobile device President once the deal is completed. Also in need of mentioning will be my ability have a open device without locked boot loaders. That's the Google intent and the Google way. It's going to shine through this purchase. If I want to troubleshoot my own phone. I can! If I want to root my phone. I can! If I want to toss all the custom roms I want on my phone. I can! But most important of all Google can set the Android standard at the device level with multiple hot selling devices. As sales pick up other Android device makers will have to either jump on board or watch the sales numbers dip. A simple enough winning formula. Fragmentation becomes less of an issue as Google & Android will always have a fragmentation issue. That argument will be hard to hold on the same level in the coming year as it is today.

Manufactures of Android devices now have the luxury of being protected by Google from Apple and Microsoft numerous patent lawsuits. Motorola has a truck load of mobile patents that Google could have only dreamed of having since they have played the game of software and not devices. Now HTC, LG and all other players can piggy back on Google knowing that lawsuit from Apple and Microsoft comes with a strong enough counter suit that leads to a settlement with little to no dollars changing hands.

The Bad


As has been the case if the past. Google allowing carriers and manufacturers to dictate terms of Google's vision has been a major problem. It's not out of the question that they will continue to allow this practice in the future. If they do then it will be a huge missed opportunity and it would have everything to do with the good ole dollar. If Google does not take this jump to team with Apple to say this is how we will build a phone, the customer loses yet again and all of the perks that should come out of a deal like this will only see the light of day on a T-Mobile or a Sprint. Never a Verizon Wireless or AT&T.

The Ugly

As we all know, not all of Google's plans pan out. We can talk about Buzz and we can talk about Wave when it comes to matters like this. As in the case with those situations Google sometimes loses focus and manages to trip on their own shoe laces. The consequences of success can sometimes result in not knowing what to do with one's self. Google has to keep their eye on the ball here. The stakes are not low at all. They remain high. Messing this one up can open the door for Microsoft who will do almost anything to stomp on Google's success and attempt to reclaim their throne as leader in the game of mobile software.

All in all the benefits out weigh the consequences but as with everything only time will tell.

More on this deal and what it means to the carriers and of course you coming later.