A great day indeed for us smartphone lovers

 Android, Google
Aug 152011
 

I am genuinely excited about Google’s purchase of Motorola, though I am not surprised one bit, as many apparently are. I believe that some of talk about the other OEMs being worried that Google is going to compete directly with them, and hence consider going to WP, is ridiculous and simply projects those posters wishful thinking; Google didn’t get to where it’s by alienating their OEMs, and their sure won’t continue their success if they did; I think they might, cautiously, use Motorola to create some reference designs (beyond the Nexus line), but that’s it.

At most, I think the other OEMs might watch Google a little more closely, just to see if the will in fact live up to what they said in that press release that nothing will change for the other OEMs. Beyond that I think they are genuinely relieved that Google has showed, in a huge way, that Google will aggressively defend Android and thus them.

For us smartphone lovers, or at least for us agnostic/neutral (and Android) smartphone lovers (as opposed to miscellaneous fanboys), this is great news as each platform will be able to go head to head in the market, with no restrictions due to IP, and it will be us, the consumers, who will decide which is the best platform and business model – not some patent portfolios and sleazy lawyers.

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Will Google pay Android-royalties to Microsoft?

 Android, Google, Microsoft
Jul 072011
 

Microsoft has, legitimately or not, been chasing many Android OEMs for the last few months regarding alleged IP infringements, and the last “victim” in the list of companies is Samsung, which is likely a milestone in this process.

Now I don’t know if Microsoft has a legitimate case or not (I don’t even know what the supposed infringements are – if anyone knows something then I’d be interested in hearing it), but I am inclined to think they do have a case given the number of OEMs that have quietly agreed to pay MS without any legal dispute, but maybe even more so because of Google’s absolute silence throughout this time.

But if Microsoft even goes after big players such as Samsung then no one is safe; even Google, with their own Nexus branded phones, could then potentially be a target it would appear; in fact, it only makes sense for them to eventually also become a Microsoft ‘payee’. The problem is that these payments do not make Google look good as it gives the impression that Google is incapable of protecting its licensees (heck, judging by Google’s silence they actually are right now!). But I am sure they are extremely worried about the situation and it seems unlikely that they will continue to sit by idly while Microsoft not only earns money from Android but also their own Windows Phone 7, which will also [unfortunately] likely increase its market share. Thus Google are probably hard at work looking at a way/strategy/solution to end Microsoft’s “persecution”.

I have a feeling that something will have to give soon, and whatever it is, it will make big headlines….

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