Google to trim Motorola staff by 20%

Google has reportedly notified the staff at Motorola Mobility that it plans to cut 20 percent of the jobs and close one third of its 94 offices worldwide. Motorola Mobility was acquired by internet giant in May 2012 for $12.5 billion.

Reports have come out that around a third of the estimated 4,000 job cuts are expected to be made in the United States.

Observers have interpreted this move as the first of many changes that Google plans to make in reinventing one of the oldest brands in electronics. Prior to the being acquired, Motorola had been in trouble for several years, missing out on the smartphone transition despite achieving strong success with its Razr brand.

Google's move on Motorola Mobility had two purposes according to observers at the time; to bolster its legal position with 17,000 patents that would help it defend its Android platform but also to help Google move into selling equipment, specifically smartphone and tablet computers.

It is understood that Google is pushing Motorola to focus on just a few high-end models of phone with added value and differentiation through additional sensors and software features.

- Peter Clarke
??EE Times