Det har ryktas länge om Google skulle köpa HTC. I ett e-postmeddelande till vår redaktion bekräftar Google att ett “Cooperation Agreement” gått igenom bara för några timmar sedan. Google tänker nu på allvar ta upp fajten med Apple och iPhone. För konsumenterna blir det en intressant resa.
Det här är en tech-nyhet som vi ändå tycker det var värt att skriva om. Det är ju så att vi har två plattformer som mynnar ut i en konsumentupplevelse – iOS och Android. De både följer varandra och här tycker vi att Android varit bättre på att hela tiden arbeta fram nya upplevelser. Android kommer nu att accelerera utveckling vilket i sin tur leder till en ännu starkare och tydligare mobile-only-värld för både marknadsförare och konsumenter.
Det visar sig att köpet inte blir ett köp av hela bolaget utan istället ett “Cooperation Agreement” där Google får ta över vissa delar och erhålla rättigheter till andra. Det handlar om immateriella rättigheter och forskningspersonal som man jobbat med tidigare.
Här är meddelandet om vad köpet innebär:
Google and HTC Corporation today announced a definitive agreement under which certain HTC employees – many of whom are already working with Google to develop Pixel smartphones – will join Google. HTC will receive US$1.1 billion in cash from Google as part of the transaction. Separately, Google will receive a non-exclusive license for HTC intellectual property (IP).
The agreement is a testament to the decade-long strategic relationship between HTC and Google around the development of premium smartphones. This agreement also supports HTC’s continued branded smartphone strategy, enabling a more streamlined product portfolio, greater operational efficiency and financial flexibility. HTC will continue to have best-in-class engineering talent, which is currently working on the next flagship phone, following the successful launch of the HTC U11 earlier this year. HTC will also continue to build the virtual reality ecosystem to grow its VIVE business, while investing in other next- generation technologies, including the Internet of Things, augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
For Google, this agreement further reinforces its commitment to smartphones and overall investment in its emerging hardware business. In addition to the talented and experienced team of professionals, Google will continue to have access to HTC’s IP to support the Pixel smartphone family. Additionally, this agreement also represents a significant investment by Google in Taiwan as a key innovation and technology hub.
“HTC has been a longtime partner of Google and has created some of the most beautiful, premium devices on the market,” said Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Hardware at Google. “We’re excited and can’t wait to welcome members of the HTC team who will be joining Google to fuel further innovation and future product development in consumer hardware.”
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to close by early 2018.