Finally, Google had made the agreement with the Taiwanese electronics giant HTC’s hardware team as we all have anticipated. The internet giant did not actually acquire the HTC entirely instead, they have taken over some of the human resources and intellectual properties for US$ 1.1 Billion today.
With the new agreement, Google will have a direct access to the HTC’s hardware technology and manpower to build the company’s own devices. Many of the employees currently working at HTC for the Pixel smartphones will be migrated to Google’s ‘own’ hardware division, and the Google will possibly make use of the patents licensed by the HTC including Camera tech, Squeezable frame, etc in making gadgets in future.
Last year with Google Pixel lineup devices, which came with the tagline “Madeby Google” were made by the HTC, and this year as well, the company would be partnering with Google in making Pixel 2 smartphones. Unlike the earlier Nexus series, Google wants to build their own smartphone in subsistence with the other mainstream players in the market including Samsung, Huawei, etc. which even run Google’s own Android Operating System. The new drive from the Google apparently shows the company’s promise in bringing quality flagships for premium level users (Like Apple did with iPhone).
If we recall back to the time when Android began thriving, HTC had become the first company to express the courage to launch a new smartphone with newly emerged Operating System. And today, a part of them has just acquired by the Android’s parent company itself.
According to the reports, the invested money will be utilized by the HTC to develop their smartphone lineups into the next big level with Googles Project Tango base AR-enabled devices, VR technologies including Vive, and even in IoT-AI powered consumer products. However, the transaction is for good’s sake for both of the firms as the HTC’s hardware team would build up a great future for the Google whereas the Taiwan (HTC’s homeland) would become Google’s second home for their own digital hub.
Quoting from Google official words:
HTC has been a longtime partner and has created some of the most beautiful, high-end devices on the market. We can’t wait to welcome members of the HTC team to join us on this journey.