Google's deal to acquire Motorola Mobility is being described as a means to advance its Android operating system in its battle against Apple and to protect it against patent suits from its rivals in the mobile space.
"We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community," said Andy Rubin, senior vice president of Mobile at Google, in a press release. "We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices."
Google said it would operate Motorola Mobility as a separate business once it receives approval from the antitrust division at the Justice Department.
Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin told USA Today that the deal could "supercharge" the Android mobile operating system.
"Google could create a range of products that enable very rich, multidevice experiences in the same way that Apple does across iPhone, iPad and Apple TV," Mr. Golvin said.
A Wall Street Journal article said Google was seeking to emulate Apple by "integrating software and hardware into a single experience," the deal giving it "a way to create a consistent experience across devices, including phones, tablets and TVs."