Google Acquiring Motorola Mobility

Big surprise! Smart move? BIG numbers! I'm sure you've heard the news: $12.5 billion (Google's largest-ever deal). 17,000 existing patents with 7,000 more in process (no tough feelings over the Nortel deal, I guess). Perhaps we should have seen something coming back in January when Motorola split in two ('Mobility' and 'Solutions').

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Here are links to the official releases:

Google Investor Relations Announcement.

Google Blog - Letter from CEO Larry Page.

Motorola Mobility Release.

Business Insider- Early Analysis.

Early thoughts on the matter? This will greatly expand Google's hardware footprint and perhaps decrease Far East dependence by bringing the bulk of design and manufacturing home.

The deal will free Motorola to focus on what it does best - business and mission-critical communication communications products and services.