Holy Benedict Arnold Batman! Less than a week after the Motorola BACKFLIP - the first Android phone to launch with a search engine other than Google - hits the market, Motorola announces that the trend of Googleless Android phones will continue. This should be a calculated expense for Google, having been well aware of the price of open source.
Motorola just announced a "global alliance" with Microsoft whose main purpose is to furnish all new Motorola Android devices launched in China with Bing search and maps. It's possible that this is the result of Google's less than desirable relationship with China and that Motorola doesn't want any trouble from the Chinese government, should relations with Google continue to go south. The term "global alliance," however, suggests that China may just be the first stop on the trip, and the press release issued by Motorola mentions that "Search and Maps capabilities through Microsoft will initially be available in China, starting in Q1 2010..." The word 'initially' may be foreshadowing Microsoft and Motorola's future plans.
Another point of interest is that with the BACKFLIP (a Motorola device, mind you), AT&T was fingered as the bad guy. Is it just a mere coincidence that Motorola is now involved in another, incredibly similar situation? Did Motorola steal a page from AT&T's play book or was Motorola calling the shots all along? There are just too many questions as to what the implications of these events may be, and I am sure the answers will come out soon enough.
How do you feel about all of this? Mad at Motorola and Microsoft for stealing Google's thunder? Think it's fair play and part of the open source game? Read the full press release and then drop your comments in the little box below!
Motorola Announces Alliance with Microsoft for Search and Maps Services; Launching on New Smart Phones in China
Services to provide additional choice to consumers on Motorola devices powered by Android
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced a global alliance with Microsoft Corp. (NYSE: MSFT) to deploy Bing services on Motorola devices powered by Android. This new offering, launching in China on smartphones in Q1, will provide consumers a choice when using search and map functions on their Android-based devices.
With this collaboration, consumers will enjoy a pre-loaded Bing bookmark on their mobile browser and an enhanced search widget with Bing integration. By enabling users to customize their devices and select their own Search provider, Motorola, with help from Microsoft, is expanding the capabilities and range of services currently offered in the marketplace and opening the doors for increased personalization.
"We believe that consumer choice is one of the most critical components to ensuring a rich and seamless client experience," said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobile Devices. "Motorola and Microsoft have enjoyed a longstanding collaboration and the addition of Bing services to our Android-based smartphones in China is another important step in empowering our end-users."
"Mobile devices continue to be a critical place for customers to access location-based services such as local search and mapping," said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of the Online Services Division at Microsoft. "We are pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Motorola to bring powerful Bing location-based services to Motorola's innovative new mobile devices, providing consumers with more choice and flexibility in mobile search."
Search and Maps capabilities through Microsoft will initially be available in China, starting in Q1 2010, through either pre-load or over-the-air updates for devices already in market.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to high-definition video and mobile devices, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $22 billion in 2009. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademark and product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2010 Motorola, Inc. All rights reserved.
Via Androinica, Phandroid