Verizon’s Blocks Google Wallet, Releases New Devices, While Samsung Wins a Legal Victory over Apple, and More


Verizon To Release New Tablets, Smartphones in Time for Holiday Season
Verizon is slated to release several new devices in the upcoming weeks, including hotly anticipated smartphones and tablets from Samsung and Motorola.

  • Motorola's Droid 4 is set to be released on December 8. It is the latest in the popular line of Motorola Droid smartphones, following on the heels of the Droid RAZR. The Droid 4 comes equipped with 4G LTE capabilities as well as a sliding full-QWERTY keyboard.
  • Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, which includes an NFC chip, is coming on December 9. The device has been one of the most sought-after releases of the season, after the phenomenal success of earlier Samsung devices like the Galaxy S II.
  • Motorola's new 4G LTE tablet, the XYboard, will be released in Verizon stores sometime later this month. As the MobileDose team reported in November, the tablet has already been released in Europe as the Xoom 2. It is available as an 8.2 inch and a 10.1 inch tablet.

Samsung Wins Big Over Apple in Patent War

Last week a California judge denied Apple's request for a preliminary injunction against Samsung, which means that the Korean company will continue to be allowed to sell 3 of its popular Galaxy smartphones in the US. A similar legal victory is expected in a lawsuit Apple has brought against Samsung in France, and the handset maker has now announced that it has secured $200 million in funding for its legal battles against Apple (although the source doesn't mention from where). These victories are both only for preliminary injunctions, and the two companies are currently involved in over 20 legal disputes in 10 countries, so Samsung still has a long way to go before its out of the legal woods.

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Barnes & Noble Files DOJ Complaint Against Microsoft

Book retailer and e-reader maker Barnes & Noble has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, accusing Microsoft of filing and threatening to file frivolous lawsuits in an effort to bully competitors into paying royalties on Android devices. Microsoft claims Android OS infringes on a number of Windows related patents, and the company has engaged in a legal proxy war with Google, rather than face the search engine giant directly.

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Google Buys Motorola Mobility: Don’t Let The Smoke Get In Your Eyes

There has been a lot of focus and fuss over the value and cost of the patents involved in the Google/Motorola transaction.

While Google’s Android market share growth is on a fast track, so are the lawsuits over patent violations, the complaints about platform fragmentation and interest about how the company will drive profits because of continuing investment in Android.

And to be sure, I have my views, but in a nut shell this whole acquisition deal raises more questions about the direction of Google – and the Android eco-system at large – then the clarity it creates. There are many moving parts. But at the end of the day, having thought about this for 36+ hours, it really comes down to two scenario’s.

1. By the end of 2012 Google will exit the hardware business completely, meaning it will dissolve Motorola Mobility in whole or part through sale or dissolution.

or…

2. By 2015 Google aspires to be a dominating force in hardware and distribution – likely attempting to mimic Apple‘s vertical solution model.

What do you think?

- Bob