The ink is not quite dry on Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility that a rumour suggests that Google could already be looking at selling pieces of it, including the handset division. The Wall Street Journal reports that Google may have already offered it to Huawei for a “high price.” It is apparently also interested in selling off Motorola’s cable set-top box business.
These rumours reinforce the belief that Google acquired Motorola primarily for its patents. It stands to gain over 15,000 patents (issued and pending) that it can use to defend Android against lawsuits (including some from Apple and Oracle).
Google plans to keep Motorola a separate entity, likely to allay concerns from other manufacturers who use Android. Selling off the division would certainly fo further to keep its hardware partners happy. The fact that Motorola has lost over US$ 5 billion over the past five years is sure to be a concern as well.
We’ll have to see how this one develops…
Read more: The Wall Street Journal (Source: The Verge)