According to sources reporting to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Justice is set to announce its approval of search giant Google’s purchase of smartphone and tablet manufacturer Motorola Mobility. Google is purchasing Motorola in an effort to secure its patent portfolio in order to bolster defense of Google’s Android operating system from the patent wars that have been marching through the mobile industry. Android has been under heavy attack from the likes of Apple as well as smaller players, and it is thought that Google will use the newly acquired Motorola patents to force its ...

Motorola executive Christy Wyatt said that it’s not the company’s software customizations that delay system updates, rather, it’s the hardware. Speaking to media at an event in New York, Wyatt explained, “When Google does a release of the software … they do a version of the software for whatever phone they just shipped. The rest of the ecosystem doesn’t see it until you see it. Hardware is by far the long pole in the tent, with multiple chipsets and multiple radio bands for multiple countries. It’s a big machine to churn.” Often, the ...

Verizon Wireless today announced that it is pushing system updates to the Motorola Droid Bionic, RAZR, and RAZR MAXX. The updates improve performance, fix bugs, and add Verizon-branded apps/services. Users can download the updates over the air. Tweet Vote on HN ...

Motorola takes its fourth shot at the Droid that started it all with the Droid 4. For the QWERTY keyboard seeker, there’s a lot to like about this LTE 4G smartphone for Verizon Wireless. Tweet Vote on HN ...

Apple has filed a new lawsuit against Motorola over a patent license agreement that exists between Motorola and Qualcomm. Specifically, Apple argues that since it is now a Qualcomm customer, it is a “third-party beneficiary of Motorola’s agreement with Qualcomm,” meaning that Motorola can’t sue it for patents it is licensing from Qualcomm. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S., but pertains to the 3G lawsuits filed by Motorola against Apple in Germany. Tweet Vote on ...

According to recently released court documents, Motorola is looking to get 2.25 percent of Apple’s iPhone business in exchange for licensing patents that Motorola claims Apple uses. Tweet Vote on HN ...

Verizon Wireless has shared the details about a forthcoming software update headed to the Motorola Droid RAZR. The update does not include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but does introduce a wide range of enhancements and bug fixes. Some of the applications affected include the mobile hotspot, visual voicemail, VZ Navigator, Bluetooth performance, battery life, and MotoCast. The update also installs new applications, including V CAST and the Commercial Mobile Alert Service. The update will be available shortly. ...

Motorola has provided a system update for the Atrix 2, which is sold by AT&T. The software update, which must be downloaded via Wi-Fi, makes a number of adjustments to the Atrix 2. According to Motorola, the update improves the performance of the camera; adds the Google Music application; patches security holes; adds emergency alerts from government agencies; and improves the keyboard, device stability, and performance of the Webtop application. The update is free to download and install. ...

Court documents reveal that Motorola is seeking 2.25% of Apple’s iPhone sales in order to license the standards-essential patents that Motorola holds. That percentage amounts to about $15 per iPhone (unsubsidized iPhone 4S 16GB). Motorola and Apple are amidst a patent battle in German courts, and the document came to light as part of this week’s proceedings in those cases. At issues is whether or not Motorola’s terms represent a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) offer. Apple argues that the terms are not fair. Motorola has won two decisions against Apple, one ...

Motorola’s Droid RAZR MAXX builds on the foundation set by the original RAZR and makes a wide number of improvements to an already good design. Here’s Phone Scoop’s full review of the RAZR MAXX. Tweet Vote on HN ...