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Google 'close' to picking new Motorola Mobility CEO, say the usual gang of sources

Brian Heater — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST

Google's first act with Motorola Mobility under its wing? Picking a new head for the company, apparently. According to some anonymous-type sources over at Bloomberg, Mountain View "is close" to picking its own SVP, former ad man Dennis Woodside, to succeed Sanjay Jha. Google, naturally is refusing to comment on the matter, which is still waiting the completion of the $12.5 billion acquisition.

Google 'close' to picking new Motorola Mobility CEO, say the usual gang of sources originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:52:00 EST

Motorola offered a estimate that lowered expectations for its Q4 2011 earnings earlier this month, and it's now out with the final numbers, reporting net revenues of $3.4 billion and a GAAP net loss of $80 million. That's a swing in the opposite direction from $80 million in net earnings during the same quarter a year ago, although the company did achieve the "modest profitability" it had promised on a non-GAAP basis, reporting earnings of $61 million by that accounting standard. Its earlier estimates of device shipments for the quarter also proved to be on the mark, with the company confirming that it shipped 10.5 million mobile devices in total, 5.3 million of which were smartphones. Mobile device shipments for all of 2011 totaled 42.4 million, with 18.7 million of those being smartphones.

As for the company's efforts to break into the tablet business, it says it "shipped" 200,000 tablets in Q4 and an even one million during the year, although there's no word on actual sale figures to consumers. Motorola's Sanjay Jha also says that the company remains "energized" about the proposed merger with Google, which is still expected to close in early 2012 (it's also, incidentally, precluded an earnings call for today). Those interested can find all of the company's numbers at the source link below.

Continue reading Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss

Motorola announces Q4 2011 earnings: $3.4 billion revenue, $80 million net loss originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Mobility stockholders happy with Google merger, 9 out of 10 dentists agree

Amar Toor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:28:00 EST

The people have spoken, and they're pleased. Said people, of course, are Motorola Mobility's shareholders, who have given a seal of overwhelming approval to the company's merger with Google. The company confirmed this sentiment in a statement issued yesterday, declaring that a full 99 percent of shareholders gave a thumbs up to Big G's acquisition at a recent meeting that comprised 74 percent of all outstanding shares. It's likely that much of this optimism was fueled by a rosier Q3 earnings report (not to mention the relatively favorable conditions upon which the acquisition was determined), but Googorola isn't entirely out of the woods, as the federal government must still give the deal its final approval. Motorola Mobility says that should happen by early next year, though it acknowledges the potential for delay. Read the full statement, after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Mobility stockholders happy with Google merger, 9 out of 10 dentists agree

Motorola Mobility stockholders happy with Google merger, 9 out of 10 dentists agree originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Atrix 2 review

Brad Molen — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Lapdock 100 brings a Webtop IQ boost to Moto phones on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T

Sony Music Unlimited arrives for Android tablets, bearing gifts of unlimited music

Motorola Atrix 4G, HD multimedia dock, and laptop dock hands-on

We've seen a lot of game-changing devices this year, haven't we? 2011 has already witnessed the first Honeycomb tablets, the influx of LTE and the introduction of a boatload of smartphones with dual-core processors. One of those groundbreaking devices was the Motorola Atrix 4G, which we called the best smartphone at CES 2011 because of its powerful Tegra 2 SoC and simply innovative Webtop operating system with an accompanying Lapdock. It was new, and it was powerful.

Not even ten months after the Atrix's February 22nd launch, we're already seeing its successor, aptly named the Atrix 2. At the risk of sounding blunt, it's not a groundbreaking device -- aside from a few bumps in specs, larger display and a fresh redesign, it doesn't offer the same level of showmanship or innovation so eagerly demonstrated in the first iteration. But does the sequel compensate for the lack of sizzle? How much does this improve over the original? Does the newest version of the Lapdock satisfy? We'll answer these questions and so much more after the break.

Gallery: Motorola Atrix 2 gallery

Continue reading Motorola Atrix 2 review

Motorola Atrix 2 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google outbid itself by 33 percent in Motorola Mobility acquisition, SEC filing reveals

Amar Toor — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:45:00 EST

Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility is already starting to lose that new car smell, but a fresh batch of financial details has now emerged, providing deeper insight into how the deal actually went down. According to an SEC filing that Motorola Mobility released yesterday, Google made an initial offer of $30 per share on August 1st, but soon raised that bid to $37 per share on August 9th, after Moto and its advisers asked for $43.50. On that same day, Google again raised its offer to $40 per share, even though Motorola wasn't accepting bids from other firms, for fear that a public auction would jeopardize its sale. This 33 percent increase ultimately added some $3 billion to the pot, bringing the final price tag to $12.5 billion. A Mountain View spokeswoman declined to comment on the negotiations, though its aggressive bidding suggests that the search giant desperately wanted the deal to go through. The documents also reveal that patent-related issues were at the forefront of discussions from the very beginning, when Google's Senior Vice President Andy Rubin met with Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha to talk about their mutual concerns, way back in July. According to the Wall Street Journal, these talks eventually convinced Jha that his company would be better off under Google's stewardship, amid fears that Moto could get swallowed by the stormy seas of patent litigation -- anxieties that the exec made all too apparent just four days before the merger was announced. You can dig through the full SEC filing at the source link below.

Google outbid itself by 33 percent in Motorola Mobility acquisition, SEC filing reveals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid Bionic to include Webtop accessories

Lydia Leavitt — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:29:00 EST

Back when we first caught a glimpse of the Droid Bionic, we speculated that the post-Atrix placement of the micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports might make it compatible with the updated Photon Webtop dock and accessories. Judging by the screenshot grabbed by Droid Life, we might have a winner as the add-ons look to be interchangeable, possibly a first step towards CEO Sanjay Jha's promised improvements. The product page also says the accessories will be "affordable" for those "curious about the Webtop application" -- count us in.

[Thanks, Chris]

Motorola Droid Bionic to include Webtop accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanjay Jha hints at Motorola's plans to collect patent royalties from Android competitors

Christopher Trout — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:21:00 EST

If you haven't noticed, the mobile patent wars have been heating up lately, and Motorola hasn't exactly been sitting quietly on the sidelines. In the past year, the company's been in the courtroom with a number of major players, including Apple and Microsoft, and now the outfit seems poised to go after other Android handset makers. According to Unwired View, during a keynote speech at the Oppenheimer Technology and Communications conference, CEO Sanjay Jha signaled that Motorola could soon go on the offensive when it comes to the competition:

I would bring up IP as a very important for differentiation (among Android vendors). We have a very large IP portfolio, and I think in the long term, as things settle down, you will see a meaningful difference in positions of many different Android players. Both, in terms of avoidance of royalties, as well as potentially being able to collect royalties. And that will make a big difference to people who have very strong IP positions.

If Motorola does indeed intend to differentiate itself from its competitors by clutching tightly to its patent portfolio, could we soon see a replay of Microsoft's recent royalty collection binge? We'll just have to wait and see.

Sanjay Jha hints at Motorola's plans to collect patent royalties from Android competitors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha talks Ice Cream Sandwich, future tablets in Oppenheimer keynote

Joseph Volpe — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:41:00 EST

You live, you learn -- or so Alanis and Sanjay Jha would have us believe. The Motorola CEO delivered a keynote speech early Tuesday morning at the Oppenheimer Annual Technology and Communications Conference, touching upon the company's recent past and the lessons its learned going forward. Referencing the Xoom launch, Jha told attendees to expect tablets in the second half of the year with "much more aggressive form factors" and unique enterprise features, adding that the company would be placing a renewed focus on cheaper, WiFi only tablets. The OEM also intends to streamline its global branding, creating marketing efficiencies for worldwide launches and saving the company a buck, or two in the process. Unfortunately, the Moto chief didn't spill the release beans for the much hyped Bionic, but did take a gentle swipe at the upcoming beast phone, calling it an "important product, but not the only product." Could this herald an oncoming wave of Ice Cream Sandwich devices? We're not sure, as Jha waffled when asked whether the company would, yet again, commit to Android's next untested evolution.

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha talks Ice Cream Sandwich, future tablets in Oppenheimer keynote originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola clarifies position on Android apps, is still cool with developer community

Brian Heater — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:31:00 EST

Being an outspoken executive often involves a steady diet of crow. So, when Sanjay Jha seemingly threw Android developers under the proverbial bus with last week's comments, it seemed only a matter of time before the backtracking commenced. Motorola has fittingly issued a clarification on the CEO's statement, explaining that Jha didn't mean to suggest that apps were at fault for 70-percent of returns. Instead, they're a contributing factor, along with poor battery life and slow performance. The company also took a moment to point out its continued support of the Android developer community, just in case anyone on that side was planning on adding to the aforementioned return rate.

Motorola clarifies position on Android apps, is still cool with developer community originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Jha blames apps for poor battery life, says Blur can save the day

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:47:00 EST

Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha took time yesterday to talk business strategy, the advantages of Android, and to take developers to task for poorly optimized apps. At several points during the 50-minute chat the topic turned to lackluster battery life, and Jha placed blame squarely at the feet of hastily tested apps -- which he said can sap between 30 and 40 percent of your phone's juice. The chairman even suggested their effect on longevity and performance were the impetus behind 70 percent of handset returns. But, the company has a solution, and (surprisingly) its name is Blur. In a moment of presumably unintentional creepiness Dr. Jha said, "MotoBlur allows us to know, with precision, what battery life you're seeing," before suggesting that future phones could warn you about power draining apps and bandwidth hogs. What wasn't clear though, was if he was talking about the existing Android battery manager or if Motorola has been collecting usage data -- since we never opted-in to such a program, we're really hoping it's the former. Hit up the source link for the entire conversation, you'll find the relevant bits at the 4- and 25-minute marks.

Motorola's Jha blames apps for poor battery life, says Blur can save the day originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint teams up with Motorola for June 9 event, finally launching a Tegra 2 device?

Brad Molen — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:31:00 EST

Sprint and Motorola have a little special something up their sleeves, and are rolling them up to show off their latest "collaborations" at a press luncheon on June 9th. Since big bosses CEO Dan Hesse and Sanjay Jha will be in attendance, and the event will be held during Apple's WWDC, we have a feeling this is going to be something big. Whatever this project is, it's been kept under the radar very well -- until now. We're hearing buzz about a Tegra 2-powered device planned for a launch next month; different reports have come out over the last few days claiming Sprint will finally take a turn sporting a Tegra 2 Android -- the yin to the EVO 3D's yang, we suppose -- sometime next month.

The device may be called the Motorola Photon 4G, a name that first appeared in a WiFi certification form (seen after the break) a month ago. According to the rumors, Sprint was ready to launch its own version of the Atrix 4G back in March, but stalled the phone's release in order to make a few design changes. Some of these changes supposedly include a 4.3-inch display, Gingerbread pre-installed, and a look that closely resembles the EVO 4G (it would even come with a kickstand). The Photon 4G is a probability for the event, but note that the invite mentions "collaborations," implying there will be more than one product to showcase. This could mean a Xoom with WiMAX is just about ready for primetime -- or perhaps it's something else magical and unexpected. No matter what's hiding in Hesse's pocket on June 9th, we'll be there to tell you all about it.

Continue reading Sprint teams up with Motorola for June 9 event, finally launching a Tegra 2 device?

Sprint teams up with Motorola for June 9 event, finally launching a Tegra 2 device? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola promises more Atrix-like laptop docks for future phones

Sean Hollister — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:02:00 EST

Motorola's Atrix 4G laptop dock was a seriously sweet concept, which is why we were so disappointed when it failed to pan out. Sounds like Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is ready to give it another try, though -- on the company's earnings results call this past week, he told investors that Moto is planning a whole series of Lapdock devices in the second half of the year:

You will see multiple devices from us in the second half launching with these capabilities, and we will expand the range of our Lapdock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both the enterprise premium tier as well as more consumer tiers.

"We plan on introducing successive iterations of our Webtop software and accessories that incorporate improved productivity tools and multiple price points," he also said, echoing previous promises to include Webtop in all high-end smartphones starting this summer. Perhaps those closely spaced I/O ports on the Droid Bionic and Targa won't go to waste after all? If you simply can't wait, Sanjay claims there's also an official price drop inbound for the Atrix 4G -- AT&T will offer a bundle with the Lapdock and phone for $400 later this month.

Motorola promises more Atrix-like laptop docks for future phones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 May 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Sanjay Jha hints at a 7-inch tablet before the end of the year, foresees tablet prices dropping

Joanna Stern — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:48:00 EST

Motorola's CEO Sanjay Jha had hinted once before that there would be a family of Motorola tablets, but speaking at Morgan Stanley's Technology, Media & Telecom Conference today, he promised that those other Moto tablets would hit before the end of the year. Naturally, Jha wasn't talking specifics, but we're betting that next tablet is a 7-incher -- he mentioned that 7-inch form factor a number of times and said that size was more "fun" and "portable." Similar to what he said on the Moto earnings call, he implied that the 10-inch size was more for professionals. Jha also spent a bit of time talking about pricing, and stated that he expects the price on the Xoom and other tablets to come down in price in the second half of the year, especially as component prices decrease. So, how's the Xoom doing at that $599 starting price? Well, it's only been a couple of days, but he assured the interviewer that "sales have started relatively well."

Motorola's Sanjay Jha hints at a 7-inch tablet before the end of the year, foresees tablet prices dropping originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola: all our high-end smartphones will have Webtop from June onwards

Vlad Savov — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:46:00 EST

You know how Motorola's Atrix is unique in having all these docking stations and a Webtop app that collectively turn it into a far more versatile computer than your average superpowered smartphone? Well, Sanjay Jha has just told investors at a Morgan Stanley shindig that the Atrix won't be unique for long -- the Webtop app will be making an appearance on all of Moto's "high performance" smartphones in the second half of this year, and we're told that the only reason the Droid Bionic won't be shipping with it was the simple constraint of time. What that implies, but something Jha didn't say, is that the Bionic and Moto's other forthcoming devices are likely to have laptop docks of their own -- hopefully with a connector that makes the docking accessory interchangeable between models.

Motorola: all our high-end smartphones will have Webtop from June onwards originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Sanjay Jha on Xoom: 'Our ability to deliver 4G justifies the $799 price point'

Sean Hollister — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:48:00 EST

Motorola's Xoom will cost a tad more than the competition, but company co-CEO Sanjay Jha has an explanation for why that might be: he told reporters that the Android Honeycomb tablet's price is justified by the promise of speedy 4G internet. Of course, the $800 Xoom doesn't actually come with 4G connectivity out of the gate, but Jha told reporters that the Xoom's LTE upgrade will be free, and that wonder of wonders, the tablet will be capable of pulling down 50 megabit per second speeds. Someone might want to check Sanjay's math -- sure, in the midst of a Verizon fog at CES 2011, we were able to manage 33Mbps, but we typically get less than half that speed on a day-to-day basis.

Motorola's Sanjay Jha on Xoom: 'Our ability to deliver 4G justifies the $799 price point' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom price official: $799 unsubsidized on Verizon, $600 for WiFi-only

Vlad Savov — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:41:00 EST

There you have it, folks -- the exhausting saga of the Xoom's pricing has finally been laid to rest by Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha. Reuters reports a $799 levy for the 32GB Honeycomb tablet when bought with 3G (which will be upgraded to 4G) connectivity from Verizon sans subsidies, while Jha is also quoted as saying that a WiFi-only version will set buyers back only $600. The latter price matches the 32GB iPad directly, however the 3G Xoom is $70 more expensive than the Apple alternative. Sanjay failed to say when said pricing or models will become available, but there have been strong indications that pre-orders or reservations will begin tomorrow (at least at Best Buy), with the tablet launching in full on Thursday next week.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Motorola Xoom price official: $799 unsubsidized on Verizon, $600 for WiFi-only originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers

Nilay Patel — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:33:00 EST

Can't say this is any surprise, but Sanjay Jha just confirmed on Motorola's earnings call that he "sees good reason" to eventually release an entire family of tablets at "different multiple different display sizes and price points." Specifically, Jha mentioned 7-inch tablets, and later said that consumer demographics like kids, teenagers, and "women" want different things from a tablet than enterprise and professional customers -- which sounds suspiciously like Jha doesn't think women want a single device for work and home, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, since he's not always the smoothest speaker.

As for the Atrix, Jha simply said that "you will see our diversity in the retail channel as well with other carriers in the US," which certainly sounds like it'll hit other carriers once the AT&T exclusivity runs out. How long that exclusivity is, we don't know -- but keep in mind that the Droid Bionic is very nearly the same phone, so there's a chance a software update will bring that sweet docking action to the red side of the market in the future. And if not, we're sure the hacking community will have it covered.

Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Atrix 4G and Xoom tablet launching at the end of February, Droid Bionic and LTE Xoom in Q2

Nilay Patel — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:45:00 EST

Motorola had one of the best CES showings of any company in recent memory, and now we've got some rough ship dates for all that new gear: CEO Sanjay Jha just announced on the company's earnings call that the Atrix 4G for AT&T and 3G Xoom for Verizon will arrive at "the end of February," while the LTE-enabled Droid Bionic and LTE Xoom will arrive at "the end of the second quarter" as previously promised. That sounds good to us -- and with that earlier Best Buy leak suggesting the Xoom will hit on February 17, we're hoping that Moto's taking a long view of when the end of February actually begins. Even better, a late February Xoom release supports those rumors that Honeycomb will be generally released in March, which is when the real Android tablet invasion will begin. It's all happening, folks.

Update: Oh boy. Jha followed up his Xoom comments in the Q&A portion by hinting that the Xoom might slip to March, but that he's very confident they'll make their timeline. Fingers crossed.

Motorola Atrix 4G and Xoom tablet launching at the end of February, Droid Bionic and LTE Xoom in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola planning 4G devices for Verizon, 7- and 10-inch tablets early next year

Paul Miller — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:32:00 EST

It looks like this CES could be a hot one for Motorola. Can you believe it was only a bit more than a year ago that Motorola introduced the Droid? Now it has a whole lineup of incredibly hot phones, and CES seems like a perfect time for the beating of chests in front of an industry. Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha just went on record during a keynote at the Credit Suisse 2010 Technology Conference, saying Motorola will be entering the tablet space 'in the near future.' He also said that he sees both 7-inch and 10-inch tablets as viable sizes -- something that seems perfectly logical to us, and might jibe with how we initially heard of Motorola's "Stingray" tablet as a smaller device, but later heard it was a full 10-incher upgradeable to LTE. This all follow's on Sanjay's statement in September that Motorola wouldn't be joining in on the tablet space until next year, a year which is rapidly approaching. Meanwhile, Sanjay also confirmed that Motorola would have 4G devices "early" next year, which also sounds like a CES hint to us, though it might just be 4G modems and hotspots at the outset. Still, bring it on.

Motorola planning 4G devices for Verizon, 7- and 10-inch tablets early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola is 'open' to developing Windows Phone 7 devices, but only if the OS proves compelling

Vlad Savov — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 08:37:00 EST

In case you somehow missed it, Microsoft lodged a complaint with the ITC on Friday, alleging Motorola's Android smartphones infringed on nine of its precious patents. You might imagine that'd sting the pride of Moto's chief exec Sanjay Jha, but nothing could be further from the truth. Describing such turf wars over intellectual property as "part of business," Sanjay explains that his company is willing to work with Microsoft on developing a handset based around its new OS, so long as the offering is "compelling." He notes that the first call he received upon becoming co-CEO and handset division chief back in 2008 was from none other than Steve Ballmer, but Microsoft's failure to deliver a new OS in '09 is what compelled him to go the Android route (we doubt he regrets doing it, mind you!).

It's no coincidence to our eyes that Microsoft went after the one top-tier Android phone maker that didn't sign up to the Windows Phone 7 utopia project. We recall HTC was in hot water with the Redmond team back in April for similar reasons, and its resultant licensing of Microsoft's patents seems to have been embedded into the WP7 partner agreements -- which is why we're not seeing the likes of ASUS and Samsung being served with similar complaints. So basically, if things get too hot and steamy, Moto could just kick out a token Windows Phone handset, get the accompanying licenses in order, and this whole thing blows over nice and peacefully. Marvelous.

Motorola is 'open' to developing Windows Phone 7 devices, but only if the OS proves compelling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skyhook: Google forced Motorola to drop our location service, delay the Droid X

Nilay Patel — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EST

We figured Skyhook's business interference and patent infringement lawsuits against Google would turn up some dirt, and we didn't have long to wait: the location-services company's complaint flatly alleges that Google's Andy Rubin ordered Motorola's Sanjay Jha to "stop ship" on the Droid X because it used Skyhook's XPS positioning system instead of Google Location Services, a tiff that ultimately delayed the phone's release while Moto reworked the software and dropped Skyhook entirely. Following that, Skyhook claims that Google then went after an unidentified "Company X" (likely Samsung) and forced it to drop XPS as well -- which would certainly explain why Samsung's Galaxy S phones have WiFi positioning turned off by default, unlike every other Android phone. Ouch.

If you're thinking that makes no sense because Android is "open," well, you might have another think coming -- Skyhook claims that Google's decisions to allow access to Android Market and its branded apps are an entirely subjective ruse based on something called the Compliance Definition Document, which can be "arbitrarily" interpreted any way Google wants with no recourse. Skyhook says that Google has now told Android OEMs that they're required to use Google Location Services, preventing Skyhook from fulfilling its contracts and costing the company millions in expected royalties.

Now, this is Skyhook's side of the story and we're sure Google will make a persuasive argument of its own, but let's just back up for a moment here and point out the obvious: Google's never, ever come out and clearly said what's required for devices to gain access to Android Market and the branded apps like Gmail -- even though we've been directly asking about those requirements since Android first launched. Remember when Andy Rubin told us that there would be full-fledged "Google Experience" phones with no carrier or handset manufacturer limitations? Or when we were told that phones with skins like HTC Sense or additional features like Exchange integration wouldn't have Google branding? And then all of that turned out to be a lie? Yes, Android might be "open" in the sense that the source code is available, but there's no doubt Google's wielded incredible power over the platform by restricting access to Market and its own apps -- power that hasn't been used to prevent carrier-mandated bloatware or poorly-done manufacturer skinning, but has instead apparently been used to block legitimate competitors like Skyhook from doing business. We're dying to hear Google's side of this story and fill in some of the gaps -- and you can bet we're digging as hard as we can for more info. Stay tuned, kids.

Skyhook: Google forced Motorola to drop our location service, delay the Droid X originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola 'eager' to get into tablet market, but won't do so until next year

Vlad Savov — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 06:06:00 EST

Motorola's been thinking about tablets for a while now, but according to Sanjay Jha, it won't be entering that flourishing new market segment until it's absolutely certain it'll have a product that's "competitive in the marketplace." Depending on how you perceive the Droid X, Moto might arguably be said to already have a tablet out on sale, but rumors have mostly circulated around a 10-inch slate device, most probably in partnership with Verizon and most likely using Android 3.0 as its OS. Google itself has admitted that Android won't be fit for tablets until Gingerbread is delivered, and Jha's reluctance to introduce any new hardware before 2011 seems to be motivated by a corresponding desire to have the latest and greatest version on board from the start. Can't say we blame him.

Motorola 'eager' to get into tablet market, but won't do so until next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view

Donald Melanson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:26:00 EST

We'd already had a pretty good indication that Motorola was shifting its strategy when it came to MOTOBLUR, and it looks like co-CEO Sanjay Jha has now finally made that move official. Speaking on the company's Q2 earnings call, Jha said that while MOTOBLUR will continue to be incorporated into some of it's phones, Motorola has decided that it will "focus on the value proposition of products and not MOTOBLUR as a brand name in its own right." Jha further went on to explain that "being able to convey the value proposition around MOTOBLUR is not an easy thing to do in a 30-second ad spot," but insisted that "MOTOBLUR continues to be important," and added that he thinks "you will see increased functionality in MOTOBLUR" -- you just won't be seeing the MOTOBLUR name much in public anymore.

Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola wants a 2GHz Android by year's end, so do we

Vlad Savov — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:32:00 EST

Looks like we didn't get the full dish from Sanjay Jha's bout of loquaciousness this morning. It turns out Moto's chief of handsets has also expressed his company's intention to bring the world its first 2GHz smartphone and to do so on an aggressively accelerated roadmap. By the end of the year, Sanjay? Yes please. Another Moto exec is cited as saying NVIDIA Tegra will be providing the graphics prowess, Flash 10.1 will be fully supported, and a gyroscope will accompany HD video recording and output on the dreamy spec sheet. We wouldn't invest all of our trust in the conveniently anonymous exec's promised specs, but that 2GHz number comes straight from the top -- let the countdown begin.

Motorola wants a 2GHz Android by year's end, so do we originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola selling Droids faster than it can make them, has up to four videophones in pipeline

Vlad Savov — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:34:00 EST

In case you're not yet convinced that video chat is the next big thing phone makers are going to push on us, let Motorola's Sanjay Jha enlighten you. Having just launched the video-centric Motorola XT720 in Europe (sans a front-facing camera), Jha is promising that his crew will deliver between two and four handsets this year with the equipment necessary to carry out video calls. Funnily enough, Moto's co-CEO describes himself as someone who's "never been a great believer" in the functionality, but clearly his company's seeing a trend it feels the need to be a part of. Speaking of trends, Moto has also fallen afoul of supply shortages similar to those constraining Droid Incredible inventory, with Jha saying about the Moto Droid, "if I could build more, I'd sell more." And if you could get Android 2.2 on them, you'd have some really happy customers too.

Motorola selling Droids faster than it can make them, has up to four videophones in pipeline originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Sanjay Jha talks tablets, Android, HTC, and more

Donald Melanson — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:26:00 EST

It looks like an investors conference hosted by Barclays earlier today was the place to be for anyone looking to get Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha's thoughts on, well, just about anything, as he took advantage of the occasion to address about as wide a range of topics as you could ask for. That even includes the topic-du-jour of tablets, which Jha says makes sense as a "companion device," adding only that Motorola is "engaged in thinking about the right solution there." Jha also addressed the issue of Motorola possibly building or acquiring its own OS by saying that "nearly all of my focus is on Android today," and that any other OS would have to match Android's capabilities. On that Android note, Jha also said that Motorola would be "aggressive" in bringing Android 2.2 to its phones (taking a Flash-related shot at Apple in the process), and he said that he wasn't concerned about the HTC Droid Incredible eating into Motorola's own Droid sales, noting that the company has more Droid phones in the pipeline that he's "excited" about, including some for Verizon -- the Droid Shadow, perhaps? Still with us? Jha also confirmed that Motoblur now has more than a million users, and that Motorola will be introducing a new version of it "later this year." That's all to say nothing about Motorola's feature phone business, its plans to sell smartphones in China, and Jha's own new role when Motorola splits into two companies next year. Dive into the links below for all the details.

Motorola's Sanjay Jha talks tablets, Android, HTC, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Jha: moving headquarters to Cali not a 'driving priority'

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:48:00 EST

Rumors have run rampant that the head of Motorola's soon-to-be-independent Mobile Devices division, Sanjay Jha, has plans to high-tail back to the Californian home from whence he came (where his family still resides, coincidentally) once the split wraps up. That may still be the case, but it looks like it's not necessarily happening any time soon coming off comments this week from the dude himself. In comments to shareholders on Monday, Jha said that "the mobile devices headquarters is in [Chicago suburb] Libertyville, and that will continue at the point of the split," qualifying the statement by saying that he'd "evaluate [their] needs" afterward but that doesn't "know" that relocating the business "is a driving priority right now." Moving the business clearly has personal benefits for Jha -- not to mention likely brings a refreshed Motorola access to a greater pool of high-tech talent in the Valley -- but regardless of what happens, he says that he doesn't think the company will "dramatically change [its] space in Chicago." Might not be a bad idea to fly all the engineers away from those nasty Chicago winters for a couple months, anyway, right?

Motorola's Jha: moving headquarters to Cali not a 'driving priority' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola cable boxes to get Blur, connect with phones

Nilay Patel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:56:00 EST

Now that Moto's phone and set-top box divisions are being split out into their own company, it looks like there's some convergence afoot: the MOTOBLUR interface found on the CLIQ and the Backflip is currently being tested on the company's cable boxes with a tentative release scheduled for this year. That's the word according to CEO Sanjay Jha, who also told the Wall Street Journal that he wants Moto's phones and set-top boxes to eventually support a common platform so they can "share media and features" -- lending credence to those old rumors about Android-powered Moto cable boxes. Of course, getting custom software on cable boxes requires negotiating with cable companies, which is an even slower and tougher process than working with cell carriers, so we're not holding out hope that we'll see the fruits of this labor any time soon -- but it's nice to think about, isn't it?

Motorola cable boxes to get Blur, connect with phones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola will 'broaden the scope' of Blur, sell a phone through Google this year

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:59:00 EST

Earnings calls tend to be about as exciting as a stale piece of white bread, but every once in a while something juicy falls through -- and morsels are filtering out of the earnings call that Motorola held this morning. Here are the biggies:

We hope you like Blur, because it's not going anywhere. CEO Sanjay Jha says that "the majority of our new smartphone [sic] this year will feature" the platform, and that it'll "include enhancements to address the prosumer segment of the market." They're looking to rope in media (music, photos, and so on) the same way they did social networking, boost enterprise compatibility for white collar types that only have one phone, and improve network efficiency to ease up on battery drain. All good things, we reckon.
Feature phones in Moto's range will "meaningfully decline" as it heads toward planned profitability in the fourth quarter through higher-margin smartphones. Android isn't the only game plan, though -- it'll continue to develop its ultra low-end handsets for emerging markets.
Following the Nexus One's lead, Jha said that it'll launch "at least one direct-to-consumer device with Google." That matches up nicely with a statement he made during our CES interview that "there will be multiple devices [launched through Google] and I think that we said 'yes' today that probably this next device is our device."

All told, we have every reason to believe that this'll be an exciting year for Moto fans -- and that HTC needs to keep a close eye on these guys.

Motorola will 'broaden the scope' of Blur, sell a phone through Google this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Multitouch coming to 'majority' of future Motorola devices, says CEO

Ross Miller — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:49:00 EST

Native app multitouch, you say? It's a dream that most US Android users have failed to experience, but Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has let loose some promising words. In an interview with Laptop, he asserted that the company will be more proactive in getting the two-finger (or more) shuffle into its Google devices -- more specifically he said, "I think you will see us deliver multitouch in the majority of our devices going forward. There's a complex set of factors, not all of them technical." That last bit's pretty ominous, but nothing we haven't surmised before, and frankly, it all sounds a lot better than "we'll consider it." Also discussed in the interview is the inevitability of tablet experimentation, and the (un)likelihood of a Motoblur phone landing in Google's online store. "I think clearly the bias is towards Google Experience devices." Perhaps, but we'll be interested to see what HTC has to say about that.

Multitouch coming to 'majority' of future Motorola devices, says CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A quick sitdown with Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:47:00 EST

We had a chance to catch up for a minute with the man tasked with turning around Moto's phone business, Mobile Devices CEO Sanjay Jha, just moments before he went on stage to introduce the Backflip this week at CES. With Android getting more attention than ever before, it's never been a better time to sit down with a guy who's gone all-in with the platform, right? He talks Nexus One, Google, firmware updates, Blur, and more, so don't be shy -- read on for the full transcript!

Continue reading A quick sitdown with Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha

A quick sitdown with Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid likely getting Android 2.1, so says Sanjay Jha

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:44:00 EST

One dude we didn't really expect to see at an event touting the HTC-sourced Nexus One was Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, but sure enough, he showed up at the tail end of the show to take a few questions. The big news there might be his statement that he "thinks" his company will update the Droid to use the Nexus One's build -- Android 2.1 -- meaning that there's a fighting chance we'll see first-party 3D accelerated apps, live wallpapers, and a replacement for that infernal app drawer on Verizon's flagship device. Interestingly, Jha and Andy Rubin have defended Android's fragmentation with different devices getting updated to new versions at vastly different paces by pointing out that 2.1's 3G support wouldn't have been possible if backward compatibility was a priority (in other words, first-gen devices without 3G chipsets don't stand much of a chance here). And hey, how are they going to get you to spill a few hundred bucks every year or two if the phones don't run significantly more awesome software?

Motorola Droid likely getting Android 2.1, so says Sanjay Jha originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola co-CEO Jha makes off with staggering $104M package in 2008

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:27:00 EST

How many CEOs of Fortune 500 companies can brag that their total compensation package for a single year equalled a full percent of their firm's market cap? Actually, with stock prices in the toilet as they are these days, probably quite a few -- but no one would seriously expect Sanjay Jha, co-CEO of embattled Moto, to be a member of that elite club. The Qualcomm hire -- who worked less than five months for Motorola in 2008 -- managed to rake in over $104 million between his salary, stock options, and other benefits, which seems criminal in light of his company's continued fight for survival, its multiple rounds of layoffs, and a recent pay cut (that, by all appearances, probably should've included some of those lucrative options). Realistically, Jha hasn't been at the helm long enough to prove whether he's worthy of this kind of dough -- but when you lose $3.6 billion in a single quarter, these sorts of packages just don't seem kosher by any measure, you know?

Filed under: Motorola

Motorola co-CEO Jha makes off with staggering $104M package in 2008 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola posts $3.6b loss as devices sales fall by 26 percent

Nilay Patel — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:38:00 EST

Things just aren't getting any better for Motorola -- just weeks after the troubled phone manufacturer announced deep layoffs, it's revealing that it lost $3.6 billion dollars in the fourth quarter. The loss is mainly attributed to falling device sales: handsets were down 26 percent, and mobile devices total were down 51 percent. According to Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, the answer for now is Android phones, which the company thinks will be more competitive than WinMo devices in 2009 -- and he interestingly said that Moto plans on continuing to make Windows Mobile devices because it thinks WinMo 7 will be a big deal when it comes out in 2010. That's the first time we've ever heard a date on WinMo 7, if you're keeping track -- and if it's right, it'll be the second time Jha's blown the lid on an upcoming version of Windows Mobile. Whoops! We'll be watching that one, but for now here's hoping Moto rights the ship with something like an Android-based SURF A3100 -- otherwise it may not even be around in 2010.

Filed under: Motorola

Motorola posts $3.6b loss as devices sales fall by 26 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola posts $3.6b loss as devices sales fall by 26 percent

Nilay Patel — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:38:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola posts $3.6b loss as devices sales fall by 26 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's co-CEOs graciously cut own pay in cost-cutting plan

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:02:00 EST

Motorola was already in the hurt locker well before this latest economic crapstorm went into overdrive, so it stands to reason that pennies are being pinched and belts are being tightened across the board out in Schaumburg. 'Course, all sorts of jobs have already been cut, so what else can you do? For starters, you can trim a few bucks off the salaries of two of the companies' more well-paid individuals -- co-CEOs Greg Brown and Sanjay Jha -- both of whom will "voluntarily" take 25 percent pay cuts in 2009 (don't worry, they'll still be able to make ends meet). Additionally, Brown will skip out on his 2008 bonus while Jha will have his bonus reduced by the total amount of Brown's forfeited bonus, and he'll take the remainder as restricted-sale stock instead of the cold, hard cash that might be a little more valuable than shares of Motorola should the company go south. For employees without seven-figure salaries, they're looking at frozen pension plans and an elimination of the company's match into retirement accounts for '09. Sign of the times, eh?

[Thanks, Joe M.]

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Motorola's co-CEOs graciously cut own pay in cost-cutting plan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola expected to cut more jobs as it simplifies around Android

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:17:00 EST

Ugh, it looks like Thursday is shaping up to be another sad Moto day. The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that Sanjay Jha, former Qualcomm exec and Motorola co-CEO tasked with resurrecting Motorola's mobile-devices division, is about to slash jobs in an effort to bring costs and production under control. Though obviously unwelcome news, it likely won't come as a surprise to employees since Jha reportedly told them that Motorola has two to three times as many employees working on individual projects compared to its competitors. Cuts will likely number in the "thousands," according to the WSJ's sources, and could come as early as Thursday when Motorola announces earnings... or more likely, lack thereof. Motorola has already shed 10,000 jobs since the start of 2007. In addition to job cuts, Jha plans to "scrap dozens of phone designs" while scaling back its mobile-OS inventory from more than a half-dozen to just three: Android for multi-media and Internet showcase phones, Windows Mobile for ho-hum business devices, and its own P2K for low-end phones. Moto will likely outsource at least some of its WinMo phone production as well. As to his motivation: $100 million and 3 percent stock if Mr. Jha manages to spin-out the mobile devices division into an independent company by late 2010. $30 million if he fails. Win-win, eh Sanjay?

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Motorola expected to cut more jobs as it simplifies around Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola expected to cut more jobs as it simplifies around Android

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:17:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola expected to cut more jobs as it simplifies around Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanjay Jha commits to reviewing Moto platforms, making needed hires in 90 days

Darren Murph — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:05:00 EST

Sanjay Jha has a fairly daunting task ahead of him, but the new co-CEO is already vowing to stomp his foot down and make some changes for the better within three months. While speaking to an audience of analysts and media, the new Motorola exec stated that he would be reviewing the firm's device platforms / product roadmap within 90 days, and he's also planning to make "hires in areas where he doesn't have experience." Thankfully, that latter tidbit includes hires in product design, which -- judging by the looks of its Alexander -- really needs some fresh brains to step in. Of course, we wouldn't expect a new bigwig to say anything other than this, so the real test comes in T-minus eighty-some-odd days when we see how he delivers. The clock's ticking, Mr. Jha.

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Misc

Sanjay Jha commits to reviewing Moto platforms, making needed hires in 90 days originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanjay Jha in at Motorola as co-CEO, handset division chief

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:38:00 EST

Motorola announced today that it would be appointing Qualcomm's former COO Sanjay Jha to head up its ailing handset division -- much to the chagrin of our own Ryan Block. Jha will also take on co-executive duties for the parent company along with current CEO Greg Brown. The news comes hot on the heels of speculation that the electronics-maker will spin off its mobile phone wing as a separate, publicly traded entity, though chatter persists that an outright sale of the division may be more economically advisable at this stage. So here's the question that begs asking: why has Moto gone the co-CEO route? Whether it's a matter of the board's confidence in Brown's abilities, or a by-product of some unseen moves, it comes off as unusual at best.

Filed under: Motorola, Misc

Sanjay Jha in at Motorola as co-CEO, handset division chief originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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