In the very beginning of the purchase news we had thoughts and hopes that Google would turn them into their own plaything for making Nexus devices. After all, having your own manufacturer sure makes creating a device much easier. That turned into talks about it mostly being for the patents that Motorola holds. While they hold quite a few, there aren’t all that many that Google could use specifically that Motorola wouldn’t have easily licensed to them to begin with. One of the stipulations to the purchase was that Google didn’t use them exclusively for Nexus devices. Which they didn’t obviously because they went with LG the last go around.
So where does that bring us? It brings us to the recent announcements of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition and the HTC One Google Edition. Oh, and the rumored Sony Xperia Z Google Edition. With at least two manufacturers guaranteed to launch a stock Google experience device, that keeps Google from causing a stir by using Motorola for one. It won’t come out as a Nexus device, but when the Google Edition Motorola phone does become available, it is likely to be on the less expensive side of things. More so in line with the pricing we are used to seeing with a Nexus branded phone. That give Motorola and Google a leg up on the other devices when it comes to pricing, but it still allows the other manufacturers to put their best foot forward and offer a true Google experience device through Google to consumers. It also lets Google bring the updates directly to those device and keep people happy about spending so much cash for a phone.
Will any of this really matter though? I am not sure. I am just saying it how I see it. I could be completely off base and totally wrong. It happens. That is the nice thing about an opinion. In the end though, the users are who win. Full cost for devices seems a bit silly and rather expensive, but has been a popular purchasing option for a while. It negates the need for any carrier contracts and keeps the bloatware out of the mix. While Android users aren’t oblivious to root and custom ROMs, but that can sometimes be a bit more of headache to the more average user and lover of the platform. Not to mention, more recent devices are plenty powerful enough and run pretty great as is with out the need for huge tweaking like back in the G1 and myTouch days. With a plethora of apps that a user can install from the Play Store to make their device completely different with minimal effort, rooting is more for the advanced tech nerd who likes that little be of extra freedom.
So as the title mentioned, has Google found the legal loophole to use Motorola? I believe the Answer is yes. Not certain it is a loophole so much as the entire plan put into motion and seeing the light of day finally. I am still torn on whether or not there will be another Nexus specific branded phone launched or not though. I am about 50-50 on that side of things. The talks of a Nexus 5 from LG are interesting enough to entertain the idea. I couldn’t imagine Google just walking from the Nexus line after the Nexus 4 either. If or when Google does put one out, it would have to be with Key Lime Pie and not another jelly Bean iteration. There should be another Nexus tablet though. If things go well with the Google Edition phone launches, I think we will start to see Google Edition tablets start to appear from the major players as well. That would at least be the next logical move.
Thoughts? Issues? Seriously, weigh in on this topic and see where it goes.
