Microsoft and Apple court victories force Motorola out of German phone and tablet market
Motorola Mobility, a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, has stopped selling Android flavored phones and tablets in Germany. This comes as a result of two recent court decisions against Motorola Mobility in favor of Apple and Microsoft that led to injunctions that Motorola could not get reversed. The court in Munich has thus made Motorola Mobility to pull out every Android smartphone and tablet that it sells in Germany.
Motorola Mobility has lost already three court cases to Microsoft in Germany. The latter wants to get paid for illegal use of its patents. On the other hand, Motorola Mobility is battling Microsoft in the Germany and U.S. courts, claiming that Microsoft has infringed on its patent relating to the H.264 video playback standard. The Google subsidiary also surprised everyone by recently dropping a patent claim against Apple in the U.S. ITC.
Motorola Mobility has said that it is switching its corporate strategy. The manufacturer is said to be now busy with reworking the software in their devices to put them back on the shelves, but it shall certainly take time for that to happen. Yet for the time being, it is making it seem as though it would have pulled out of Germany anyway to follow CEO Dennis Woodside’s new game plan to sell more high-end models in fewer locations.
“As we have previously stated Motorola Mobility is focusing on fewer mobile devices. As a result we have phased out some of our lower tier devices in Europe/Germany.”- said Motorola Mobility Spokeswoman.
Motorola Mobility’s German website now shows just the Motorola Gleam which uses a proprietary OS, and two upcoming Android phones, the Motorola RAZR and Motorola RAZR HD. Those who want to buy the Android modes can register to buy them later. The tablets page is blank with no product for sale.
Motorola Mobility devices are still offered by retailers although inventory can dry up if the company decides to end wholesale shipments.
