Motorola gets its push on, acquires Good Technology

Good Technology, the push e-mail mobile software company (think of it as RIM without the hardware, if you prefer), has just been acquired by Motorola for an undisclosed amount. Motorola previously had a business relationship with Good, and uses its mobile messaging software on Motorola -- but now, things get a little more interesting, given that consumers may have a choice between BlackBerry Connect or Good software on a Motorola Windows Mobile device. It's also curious that RIM and Motorola seem primed for a titanic clash, given that Big Mama Moto, a traditional ordinary-consumer company, seems to be encroaching on RIM's corporate customers with devices like the Q Pro, while our Canadian enterprise-focused friends are coming straight at John Q. Public with the Pearl. The deal is expected to close in 2007, given the Feds approve and all that jazz. As of this writing, Motorola stock rose on the news 0.84 percent to 21.37.

[Thanks, Vince M.]

Read - Good/Motorola press release
Read - Reuters

[Matt B @ Nov 10th 2006 1:31PM]

I heard Mediocre Technology was close to a deal too, but wanted more money than Good.

[RD Gibson @ Nov 10th 2006 2:17PM]

I wonder how this will affect Good's relationship with Palm? Will Moto continue to support enterprises using Good push e-mail on Treos?

[raulr @ Nov 10th 2006 3:01PM]

@RD Gibson

"Motorola will build upon Good Technology's customer and carrier relationships by maintaining its multi-device strategy. "

[HipHapa @ Nov 10th 2006 3:55PM]

Good was on its way out of business anyway. Microsoft is going to do to RIM and Good, what it did to Apple in the late 80s and 90s.. Get every hardware manufacturer to put Windows Mobile on their devices. Its already happening with Palm, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, etc... RIM is equivalent to Apple: Proprietary OS and Hardware and only works with a limited number of servers. ActiveSync is mostly SyncML and is relatively easily supported by multiple mail servers (I know.. I work for a company who produces an alternative to Exchange that supports ActiveSync).. Windows Mobile will be the dominant SmartPhone OS by the end of 2007.

The only way RIM could possibly save itself is by coming out with a REALLY sexy Smartphone aimed squarely at the masses (keeping my earlier comparison alive... something comparable to the iMac which brought Apple back into the spotlight). The "Pearl" is something that could gain traction, but everyone I know hates that damn keypad.

[saq @ Nov 10th 2006 4:34PM]

Looks like Good extended their lifespan in a way. There was no way they could compete with Windows Mobile and RIM when everyone under the sun is licensing syncing technologies for both. Blackberry sync on all WM devices as well as Palm and Symbian devices, and Exchange Activesync on everything but RIM devices.
Goods only advantage was for the Blackberry Enterprise Server-less and Exchange-less devices, which are now nonexistant.
Microsoft is seriously putting the hurt on RIM right now with their free enterprise-grade wireless sync/push technology. RIMs solution requires an existing mail server, and an additional mail server to run their BES software. Why would you buy BES if you already had Exchange?

HipHapa: That is a good comparison between MS & RIM.

RIM needs to cut prices and make a toned down BES that people can put on their Exchange server for cheap/free or they are going to see marketshare flush away.
Especially when Exchange 2007 adds Unified Messaging (email, phone voicemail, fax) and even more Exchange Activesync items on WM devices.

[JOE BOY @ Nov 11th 2006 5:25PM]

Why buy a BES, Can you spell S.E.C.U.R.I.T.Y.

BES Express is available for Free.

WM5 is a dog that won't hunt.

Motorola, is to much of a old school industrial company to make "Good" any better.

[Matthew Artero @ Nov 11th 2006 4:25PM]

Years ago I offered Good and those invested in it the technology necessary to push Blackberry and other competitors out of the market. They never looked at it and now they have gotten a low return on investment. My technology is still valid.

Matthew Artero User Interface has a new top secret hand-operated-user interface that makes it possible for one hand to enter AND EDIT text in a cell phone faster than typing with two hands on a full size desktop keyboard. The same hand that holds the cell phone operates the interface so only one hand is required. The company states the cell phone will replace the desktop keyboard. When the qwerty keyboard hit the market it displaced the alphabetical keyboard and put over 50 typewriter companies out of business. This new interface holds the same threat for smartphones, PDAs, notebooks, ultra portables, and so on. Handheld and mobile devices that do not offer Mobile Users this new level of productivity will sit on store shelves remaining unsold, while manufacturers and service providers who are first to offer this new technology to Mobile Users will become market leaders. http://www.matthewarterouserinterface.com

[saq @ Nov 11th 2006 4:53PM]

Those are some lofty claims with 0 backing you have there.
I doubt a single handed interface can beat 150wpm, as your average user can barely think, much less type that fast.
What do you have to back up your claims?

[JOE BOY @ Nov 11th 2006 5:29PM]

So, is that why RIM will have added nearly 20K new customers with the BES installed behind the firewall. MS only cares about 1 thing selling more of its main core competency products software. It is not and never will be a mobile company.

TCO of mobilization on WM5 vs RIM BlackBerry
Security
All reasons MS is still miles behind and the BlackBerry tailights never to seem to get any brighter to MS.

[Matthew Artero @ Nov 11th 2006 5:31PM]

As my website states because I don't have my patents yet you will have to sign a nondisclosure agreement to see it. The patents for the USA alone will cost me over $100k so if you have a substantial amount to invest I can show it to you for you to decide if my claims are true. So far two of my friends have invested for a total of about $40k. What ever speed you type on a desktop you will be faster on my interface.

[JOE BOY @ Nov 11th 2006 5:59PM]

The claims are certainly tenable.

What is your background and experience? (Education and Training? Do you hold any other patents?
This sounds like prior art?

I may possibly be interested, is there a working model of your interface. Is this all on paper?

[Matthew Artero @ Nov 11th 2006 6:40PM]

Joe Boy you can contact me directly at [e-mail] The patent searches show that prior art is not a problem. My experience is not in this field but I saw the opportunity and felt I could do it. It took me over a year, of working seven days a week on it to figure it out. I lost track of how many inventions I discarded that year. I hold no patents at this time. http://www.matthewarterouserinterface.com

[Steven @ Nov 12th 2006 12:20PM]

Funnily enough, Nokia acquired Intellisync early this year...a software provider for mobile PIM & email, device management, etc. I guess Motorola thought that was a good idea.