Interesting times ahead for Android ecosystem

Singapore

ANYONE reading the news that Google is buying a significant chunk of Taiwanese phone maker HTC for US$1.1 billion - after months of speculation - could be excused for getting a sense of deja vu. Is it a kind of redux to Google's highly publicised US$12.5 billion purchase of iconic mobile phone maker Motorola?

While the whole world knows that Google has hardware ambitions, most industry watchers have been of the view that this ambition was one of its long-term KIVs (keep in view). Ditto for its parent, Alphabet.