Patent Neglect Forced Google's Motorola Bid

Many early reactions to the Google purchase of Motorola Mobility assume that since Google really wanted the patent portfolio, it might turn around and try to sell the Motorola Mobility hardware business. That would end a channel conflict issue, at the very least. But some argue that Google actually prefers owning an actual company than a "mere" patent portfolio, despite the issues related to integrating 19,000 new employees with Google's existing 29,000. Patent Neglect Forced Google’s Drastic Motorola Bid. Then there is the difference between culture at a software firm versus a manufacturing entity. It won't be so easy to "iterate often" when the product is hardware-based.

Every Android partner knew Google was going to have to do something to solve its patent problems, but they probably didn’t expect Google to choose the most expensive solution. When it refused to pay $4.6 billion for Nortel’s patents, Google likely found itself forced to look around for the next-best alternative. http://moconews.net/article/419-androids-second-act-under-way-with-googles-motorola-deal/

So there are many questions that will not start to be addressed until the merger clears regulatory reviews. At least so far, that does not seem to be a huge hurdle. It probably is fair to say more people are concerned about what the completed acquisition might mean for the Android ecosystem overall.