For the past few days, there’s this rumor flying around that Google might be buying HTC. Today, we’ve gotten the confirmation – Google is indeed buying HTC, but not completely.
Google is only buying parts of HTC – specifically, the Pixel smartphone division. The gist of it is as follows:
- Certain HTC employees – many of whom worked on Pixel smartphones – to Join Google
- Google receives HTC IP through non-exclusive licensing agreement
- Transaction reinforces HTC’s commitment to innovation and its branded smartphone business
This agreement costs Google a total of USD $1.1 billion in cash – and that’s a big deal. One way or another, it’s pretty much a win-win situation. Google’s Pixel series of smartphones are ridiculously expensive and they’ve lost the way of the Nexus. HTC, on the other hand, lost the market’s interest and they’re suffering from poor sales.
Personally speaking, HTC has been pretty much relying on their VR side of things to keep the company afloat. Look at the success of the HTC Vive – and then compare it with the current state of their smartphones. Sure, the U11 is indeed a special phone – but the price is the biggest factor that no one bothered about them in the first place.
HTC has been trying to regain the market share for smartphones since sometime after the HTC One M8 – and they’ve not been doing so well. Ironically, the Google Pixel which is produced by HTC, is doing well. I think what Google did here is indeed a win-win situation.
I’ll never forget the glory days of Android. HTC was the one who brought Google’s Android to glory. HTC Legend – the phone with a curved chin that was released back in the year 2010 – that’s the most legendary Android phone ever. Come to think of it, the name is very appropriate.
I’m afraid that this marks the fall of a legend – at least for a while. Maybe they’ll rebuild once again, like what HMD Global did to Nokia. We can all hope for that day to come.
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