Was actual price Google paid for Motorola less than $2 billion?

A few days ago Google announced that it was selling the set-top box division of Motorola to ARRIS for a combined stock and cash price of $2.35 billion. This event has triggered a look back at the original purchase of Motorola by Google for a publicized price of $12.5 billion by the folks over atForbes. According to their analysts, two items of value can be backed out of the original purchase price.

The first is the set-top box division which we now know was worth $2.35 billion. The second are tax savings that Google will realize as a result of Motorola’s losses. Robert Willens, a New York tax expert, has estimated Google will be able to offset the Motorola losses against Google’s own profits to the tune of $1.7 billion initially and $700 million annually through 2019. By Forbes calculations, that brings the price down to $1.5 billion. My own calculations come up with $2.85 billion.

Whatever the final number is, we are closer to being able to assign a value to the patents that Motorola owned, which were the main target of Google’s acquisition.

source: Forbes

Google steals Samsung’s VP of Marketing to work for Motorola

We just reported on Google’s and Motorola’s secretive and super forward-thinking X Phone, and part of that story was about the heavy emphasis that Google is willing to put into marketing the device. In the story, we heard that Larry Page told Motorola that he is willing to allocate a significant amount of funds into marketing the X Phone. Well, now we know where a portion of those funds are going: to Brian Wallace’s salary. Google just nabbed Samsung’s Vice President of Marketing, Brian Wallace, who helped push Samsung into the Android success story that it is today. Wallace spent the last year working at Samsung and is responsible for the passive-aggressive (and highly successful) “The Next Big Thing Is Already Here” campaign that took swings at Apple’s most devoted fans. Before that, Wallace worked for over ten years at RIM, where he tried to help the struggling Blackberry maker make a turn around. Today, Brian Wallace will sit at the helm of Motorola’s marketing strategies, and hopefully will push the fledgling company back into the powerhouse territory where it used to reside. Let’s hope this all ties into the thickening plot of the Google/Motorola Super X Phone.

Source: All Things D

Motorola releases a timetable for Jelly Bean updates on numerous devices

It’s always nice to see companies releasing timetables for upcoming updates, especially as big as Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Here’s a list that Motorola provided:

• RAZR i Jelly Bean update now scheduled for Q1 2013
• Verizon Droid RAZR HD/RAZR MAXX HD still due Jelly Bean update before 2013
• AT&T Atrix HD due Jelly Bean update before 2013
• 3G/LTE Xoom Jelly Bean update delayed to Q1 2013
• Canadian Atrix HD + RAZR HD due to get Jelly Bean in Q1 2013
• Euro RAZR HD Jelly Bean update scheduled for Dec. 2012

While there’s still no word on when 4.2 will be released, it’s good to see they have their eyes set on a 4.1 update. Once these updates begin to officially roll out, we’ll be sure to cover it as soon as they’re live!

source: Motorola Forums

Jelly Bean 4.1 gets approval from Verizon, will release on DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD

Time for the news that owners of the DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD have been waiting for: Jelly Bean has been approved for those devices and will begin rolling out in phases beginning next week per news straight from Verizon:

Friday, Nov. 30: DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola are the next smartphones to be upgraded to Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. The software upgrade will be pushed out to customers in phases starting next week. Customers can visit the support page for more information about the Jelly Bean upgrade.

Along with all the stock Android 4.1 goodies like Google Now and improvements to notifications, Verizon has purportedly improved voice and data connectivity as well as made ‘improvements’ to the stock calendar. They’ve also tweaked the Back Up Assistant. The update comes in at a hefty 276MB, so be sure you’re prepared when you get that prompt to update.

source:  Verizon 

Smartphone Buyer’s Guide For Budget-Minded Customers: The Best Devices For $99.99 Or Under

It may be the start of the holiday season, but there are always great deals available for prospective smartphone shoppers looking to grab a sweet phone that won’t break the bank. In fact, there used to be the notion that in order to grab a phone under $100 on-contract, you’d have to settle for an outdated or budget-level device. However that notion is no longer the case as customers across all carriers can easily find a decent (if not great) device for a reasonable price. Of course figuring out which device may be a bit difficult, but don’t fret— Talk Android has you covered as we’ve come up with a solid guide with our recommendations of the best devices for under $100 on-contract for your respective wireless carrier. So without further ado, head on past the break to see our picks of the best devices that won’t break the bank.

Motorola Atrix HD soak test preparing to get underway

Motorola has sent out a message via their Motorola Feedback Network advising members that testers are needed for a new software release for their Motorola Atrix HD smartphone. The invite reads:

We are inviting owners of the Motorola ATRIX HD on AT&T to participate in an early preview of a new software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Motorola ATRIX HD, please excuse and ignore this email.

Unsurprisingly sparse in details, the invite does not give us any clue as to whether this may be the planned Jelly Bean update. We will keep a watch for word about the update once it starts to roll out to testers.

Thanks George!

Motorola fully reveals $100 trade-up program, we’re not impressed

After months of constant backtracking on software updates, Motorola has finally revealed its highly anticipated $100 trade-up program. There’s only one slight problem–it’s garbage.

Owners of Motorola devices not slated to receive an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean need only apply. This means if you’ve got a Droid 3, Droid X2, Admiral, Atrix 2, Atrix 4G, Cliq2, Electrify, Photon 4G,XPRT, Titanium, or Triumph you’re eligible to receive $100 towards the purchase of a new Motorola smartphone. Unfortunately, this “cash” will come in the form of a rebate card rather than an up-front discount.

For example, if you choose to go with a new Motorola device on Big Red you can take your old device into a carrier store and you will be presented with a $100 Verizon gift card which you can then use to pay your bill or purchase accessories. Due to Motorola’s close partnership with Verizon, the process of getting a phone on any other carrier is a complete hassle. Say you opt for the Atrix HD on AT&T. You will have to purchase the phone outright and then send your receipt, along with your old phone, into Motorola. Within 6 weeks you can expect a $100 Visa gift card to arrive in your mailbox.

Sure, Motorola is trying to rectify things with its disgruntled user base, and we applaud them for that. But seriously, every eligible phone on the list is worth more than $100 if you were to sell it on Craigslist or eBay, and cold hard cash is a lot more useful than any sort of silly gift card.

Source: MotoTradeUp

Motorola Xoom and Nexus S will not officially receive Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update

Now that Android 4.2 is officially out, next comes the requisite statements from manufacturers stating which of their devices will and will not receive Google’s latest offering. In other words, the ones that will not receive the update are officially dead – at least officially in the manufacturers eyes and physically based on the devices’ hardware specs. Google’s lead engineer, Jean-Baptiste Queru , had this to say about the two devices regarding Android 4.2 and their compatibility:

“There is no support for 4.2 on Nexus S and Xoom. Those devices should 
continue using 4.1.2. I can’t comment about the future of Nexus S and Xoom, sorry.”

Both devices were recently given the upgrade to 4.1 but apparently that extra jump to 4.2 was just too much for the legacy devices to crunch. The devices certainly had a fantastic run and I’m sure users will continue to enjoy and use them in the coming year even though they won’t be rocking the shiny new OS.

source:  Google Forums

Motorola introduces ‘Test Drive’ feature for select few to test future software updates before release

Right on the heels of the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update on the DROID RAZR M today, Motorola has introduced a feature they’re calling ‘Test Drive.’ This feature will allow a select group of registered users to have access to the latest software and provide feedback before it goes public. There’s no mention of how or when those users will be selected however. Tenure maybe? The first group of “a few hundred consumers” that get to be a part of this new feature will be when Android 4.2 begins to roll out. This no doubt will be a pretty sweet, distinguished group of folks, so we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

source:  Motorola Blog

Motorola Atrix HD Developer Edition Hits Motorola’s Site

On the heels of releasing the DROID RAZR M Developer Edition and the DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition, those anxious to be able to do the same type of customization with the Atrix HD are in luck. The Atrix HD Developer Edition from Motorola is now showing up on their website, but in information registration form only. There are no specifics as far as pricing or availability. All the requisite warnings will still presumably apply and the second you purchase the device, your warranty is void. Basically, there is no warranty. However, this edition does let you customize to your heart’s content like custom software and themes thanks to its unlocked bootloader.

source:  Motorola

US judge dismisses Apple vs. Motorola patent lawsuit

Apple likes lawsuits. Anyone who keeps keeps up with the mobile tech industry will tell you the same thing. More than a few Android OEMs have faced lawsuits from the Cupertino legal team, and unfortunately, sometimes those lawsuits have some pretty serious consequences. Not all of the lawsuits end in Apple’s favor, though, and in this case of Apple against Motorola, the legal train stopped before it ever really got started.

Not too long ago, Apple filed a lawsuit against Motorola. It wasn’t about the patents themselves, but instead about licensing those patents. Apple claimed Motorola’s licensing practices were unfair. Late last week, however, District Judge Barbara Crabb questioned whether or not she had the authority to hear the claims made by Apple, and ultimately dismissed the case on Monday. Apple declined to comment, but a spokesperson for Google said they were pleased with the order. Apple did file a legal brief afterwards, though, and claimed Judge Crabb did have the authority to hear the claims.

Motorola DROID RAZR HD AND RAZR MAXX HD Smartphones Get Minor Security Update

Verizon’s hottest smartphones for the fall may be only a few weeks old, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t get a  welcome update, right? Well Verizon and Motorola have announced a minor security update for the DROID RAZR/RAZR MAXX HD smartphones. The build— version 0.7.2.XT926— brings a “Google Security Patch”… which may or may not remove the ability for owners to partake in any shenanigans with the device.

The update is expected to reach owners sometime within the week, so if you’re an owner of either device, make sure you’re on the lookout for the update.

source: Verizon Wireless

DROID Bionic Soak Test Imminent, may finally be Ice Cream Sandwich

In what seems like ages, there’s finally good news for owners of the DROID Bionic. Motorola has purportedly invited Bionic owners to test out a new software update. It’s been reported that we would see Ice Cream Sandwich in the 4th quarter of this year for the Bionic, save for a few leaks. So naturally, we can’t see this being anything other than Ice Cream Sandwich, at long last. As a reminder, a soak test is usually the last phase of testing software. If responses are mostly positive, then it’ll be good to go to the masses soon thereafter. What do you say, Bionic owners? I know, when does Jelly Bean arrive?

Motorola Atrix 2 gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich

Motorola Atrix 2 owners are rejoicing today because AT&T started rolling out the Ice Cream Sandwich update. We were expecting this but there is no doubt Atrix 2 owners will be happy to ditch Gingerbread. This update brings ICS favorites like Face Unlock, swipe away notifications and tabbed browsing. The update also brings Motorola’s quick-launch lock screen which allows users to unlock their phone directly to the camera, phone dialer, text messaging or home screen. It is still unlikely that the Motorola Atrix 4G will get ICS despite the protests, but at least Motorola is making a step in the right direction with other phones.

Motorola to phase out Webtop and laptop docks

Despite having been such a groundbreaking platform, the days of using a laptop dock are coming to an end. In a statement made earlier today, Motorola has announced its plans to kill of its Webtop program and line of laptop docks, first unveiled alongside the Atrix 4G at CES 2011.

“Motorola’s Webtop app helps users extend their smartphone experience to larger screens. While consumers around the world have adopted Webtop and the concept spurred a lot of innovation in the industry, the adoption has not been strong enough to justify continued resources being allocated to developing Webtop on future devices. We have also seen development of the Android operating system focus on the inclusion of more desktoplike features. Beginning with Photon Q and Droid Razr M/Droid Razr HD/Droid Razr Maxx HD, we will no longer be including Webtop on our products moving forward.”

Beginning with the Photon Q, which was released earlier this year, Motorola has chosen not to include its Webtop software on any future devices. This means handsets like the Droid Razr M, Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD will not see the service, leaving users to look elsewhere for their portable computing needs. While we may have seen this decision coming for some time, it’s disappointing to see such an innovative piece of technology fade away. Regardless, this appears to be a step in the right direction for the new Motorola.

Motorola RAZR i shipping in the UK on October 1

Last week, Motorola and Intel unveiled its international version of the RAZR M, the RAZR i. A British retailer has now confirmed Motorola is releasing this Intel Atom based device on October 1st in the UK. Those of you in the UK can grab this nice device for the SIM-free price of £342 ($555). That chunk of change will buy you the following:  A lightning-like Intel Atom 2GHz processor, 4.3-inch edge to edge qHD (960 x 540) display, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 8GB of storage, GPS, NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is upgradeable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We’re anxious to see how this 2GHz beast performs in the real world. Let us know if you jump on this device.

Motorola’s RAZR i event now available to watch online

Did you happen to miss Motorola’s unveiling of its first Intel-powered smartphone last week? Fear not. The entire event is now available to watch online. As a refresher, the RAZR i is essentially an international variant of the Droid RAZR M, and sports a 2GHz Atom CPU, as well as a 4.3-inch edge-to-edge display. We’ve embedded the full video after the break for your immediate viewing pleasure. You’re welcome.

See how Apple’s iPhone 5 stacks up against its Android competitors

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Apple announced its redesigned iPhone 5 earlier today at an event in San Francisco. The newest iteration brings a slew of enhancements, including a larger 4-inch screen and a thinner 7.6mm body. To get a better feel as to how the new handset matches up against its Android competitors, we’ve included a comparison chart outlining the specs of Apple’s iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X and Motorola’s new Droid RAZR HD. Be sure to take a gander after the break.

Note: the models listed below are US variants.

Hands on With the DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD [Video]

Motorola unveiled two special devices this afternoon in New York City. The flagship of the two by far is the DROID RAZR MAXX HD, which comes with an HD (1280 x 720) display. It has the same 3300mAh battery found on the original RAZR MAXX, but the screen size is bigger at 4.7-inches. Other notables are a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, and 2MP front camera. It will come with 32GB of storage and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Next up is the DROID RAZR HD, which is essentially the same phone, but with a smaller battery, 2530mAh. It will only be offered with 16GB of storage, but you will get your choice of white or black for the body. The RAZR MAXX HD on the other hand, will only be offered in black.

Motorola promises the Jelly Bean update for both devices by the end of the year. As far as availability and pricing, we were only told that they would be available before the holidays. For now, check out our hands on video below.

Motorola Announces The DROID RAZR M, DROID RAZR HD And DROID RAZR MAXX HD Smartphones

 Motorola has formally announced the three newest additions to the DROID RAZR family: the DROID RAZR M, DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD smartphones. Each smartphone has unique characteristics and features that aims to set it apart from the rest of the competition. Right off the bat, the DROID RAZR M is a device with a special 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display and almost no bezel, which effectively makes the device a full-screen smartphone. The device will feature Android Ice Cream Sandwich and be available on Verizon’s network for $99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate) and “coming soon” to other Asian Pacific markets.

The other stars of the show also possess noteworthy features. The DROID RAZR HD is identified as the “most compact HD smartphone in its class”, while allowing for outstanding battery life. Motorola claims users of the device can watch up to 10 hours of movies and TV shows or 6 hours of surfing the web. Meanwhile, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD one-ups the DROID RAZR HD. Motorola highlights the device will provide 32 hours of performance, including up to 10 hours of YouTube HD content or 8 hours of web browsing. Very mpressive indeed. The DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be “available soon” in the Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America.

Each device will feature Gorilla Glass, Kevlar and Google’s Chrome Browser as the standard browser preloaded. And yes… each device is confirmed for the Jelly Bean update. We know you all are itching for more details, so be sure to hit the break for the full press release from Motorola.

Motorola Mobility Takes Screen Size and Battery Life to the Edge with Three New Smartphone Additions to RAZR™ Family

More screen. More battery life. More compact. More colors. And the best of Google packed inside. Introducing the new RAZR^™ M, RAZR^™ HD and DROID RAZR^™ MAXX^™HD.

Sept. 05, 2012  

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Sept. 5, 2012 – Speed, power, design and the best Android™ experiences around. Motorola Mobility is delivering all that and more with threenewadditions to its RAZR™ smartphone family: Motorola RAZR M, the full screen phone; the nonstop all-day entertainer Motorola RAZR HD; and the unmatched, live-forever battery of DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola. All three Android-powered smartphones are built with top-of-the-line materials, are small in size, big on battery life and packed to the gills with the best experiences Google has to offer.

Pushing Screen Space to the Edge
Motorola RAZR M packs a big screen into a phone that fits in the palm of your hand. The Super AMOLED Advanced 4.3-inch display spans from edge-to-edge. The border you typically find on smartphones is virtually, in a word, gone. Even though it’s smaller in size, you still get 40 percent more screen than the leading competitor*. You can type emails and texts easily with a wider keyboard, watch YouTube™ videos and movies on a wider screen and browse the Web with Chrome™ for Android without squinting. All on a long-lasting battery that is 40 percent more powerful than the competition*.

Motorola RAZR M is also easy to use. It comes with interactive, swipe-by-swipe tutorials that walk you through the setup and help customize your phone to your needs – no instruction manual required. While RAZR M already has a long-life battery, when you set up the SMARTACTIONS™ battery saving rules too, your phone settings will automatically adjust to squeeze even more from every charge.

Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR M will be coming soon to consumers in several Asia Pacific countries. For those in the US, it’s coming to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR M by Motorola for the unbelievable price for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. All that power, speed and edge-to-edge beauty at a great price. No catch.

Go. All. Day.
The new Motorola RAZR HD provides long-lasting battery performance for nonstop high definition entertainment. Its 4.7-inch HD display is the most compact smartphone in its class, designed for watching up to 10 hours of movies and TV shows or 6 hours of surfing the Web. You get the same sharp clarity as your HDTV, and beat the competition* with 85 percent greater color saturation and 50 percent more pixels per inch.

It’s not all about looks though. If you feel like hitting the road, you can drive with confidence knowing you’ll get up to 6 hours of voice-guided turn by turn GPS navigation all on a single charge. No matter where the day (or night) takes you, Motorola RAZR HD will keep up with 24 hours of battery performance.

Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR HD will be coming soon to consumers in various countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. In the US, it will be available before the holidays on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR HD by Motorola. We’ll provide more details on pricing and availability soon.

Long Live the Battery
Never have an “off” day again. DROID RAZR MAXX HD has the same features as Motorola RAZR HD, but takes battery life to a whole new level. We’re talking 32 hours of performance¹ with the longest-lasting LTE smartphone¹. You can literally get through an entire Hollywood trilogy with 13 hours of straight video playback, up to 10 hours of YouTube HD content or surf the day away with up to 8 hours of web browsing. For those who eat, drink, work, play and sleep with their phones, life won’t ever be the same.

DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available before the holidays in black in the US on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. More details on timing and pricing will be made close to availability dates.

Premium Materials and the Best of Google
These new smartphones are made from the premium design materials you expect from the Motorola RAZR family, including a Corning® Gorilla® Glass display, DuPont™ KEVLAR® fiber^ and a splash-guard coating. They’re also built with the best of Google inside:

● Chrome™ for Android, giving you a personalized Web experience anywhere you go

● Google Play™, offering access to 600,000+ apps and games, millions of books and songs thousands of movies and TV shows

● Google Maps™ for Android for voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions

● Voice Actions for Android™, letting you control your phone with your voice

● Google+™, which can automatically upload your photos to a private album online

● YouTube™ for watching exclusive videos and live events in HD quality

● Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, upgradeable

For more information and multimedia assets for Motorola RAZR M, Motorola RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD, please visit our press kit at mediacenter.motorola.com.

Calling All Devs and Mod Enthusiasts
The beauty of Android lies in personalization and customization. For developer and custom ROM enthusiasts, DROID RAZR M and DROID RAZR HD will come in a special developer edition available online only through motorola.com in the U.S. Tweak, tinker and customize the day away by using Motorola’s software tools to unlock the bootloader. Warning: not for the faint at heart. Warranties will be voided. Visit motorola.com/razrmdev or motorola.com/razrhddev for more information.

In countries outside the U.S., the device will ship with an unlockable bootloader where operators allow.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

*As compared to Apple iPhone 4S

^KEVLAR® not available on all smartphones. See Motorola.com for details.

¹Based on an average user profile that includes both usage and standby. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on signal strength, network configuration, features selected, and voice, data and other application usage patterns.

Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. Contact your service provider for details. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Chrome, Google+, Google Maps, Google Play and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. Corning and Gorilla are registered trademarks of Corning Incorporated. KEVLAR is a registered trademark of DuPont used under license. DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. and its related companies. Used under license. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.