Google has agreed to acquire mobile device manufacturer Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. The acquisition is expected to close early next year.
Motorola Mobility will operate as a separate business, Google said in a blog post announcing the acquisition. Google’s Android mobile operating system is the sole OS running across Motorola Mobility’s smartphones and tablets, Google CEO and cofounder Larry Page said during a conference call. Google acquired Android in July 2005.
Andy Rubin, Android founder and SVP of mobile at Google, said during the conference call that Android will remain open for other device manufacturers to license.
Android accounted for 54% of the ad impressions served by Millennial Media in the second quarter, while Motorola had the fifth-highest share of mobile ad impressions in June at 9%, the mobile ad network said.
Motorola spun off its mobile device business into Motorola Mobility in January. Motorola Mobility reported a 21% year-over-year increase in second-quarter net revenue to $3.3 billion, but posted a $56 million net loss.
