Google Selling Motorola STB Business

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Google is accepting bids for their Motorola STB (set top box) business unit.

This is not surprising to anyone who has been paying attention. When Google Fiber decided to use another product rather than the in-house Motorola STB for their Kansas City deployment - the writing was on the wall.

Google and Motorola STB's

There are lots of rumors floating around about Google wanting to sell the Motorola Mobility Set Top Box business. Meanwhile Motorola is releasing new STB's geared for Microsoft MediaRoom.

That's all well and good but the real story I want to see explained is why Google Fiber did not choose to use Motorola STB's in its Kansas City deployment. All three stories are connected.

Google to Slash 4,000 Jobs at Motorola

Google to slash 4,000 jobs at Motorola. That's 20% of the company. It is expected that a third of those cuts will be in the US. My mind works differently from most so when I read the article two things came to mind:

1. I'm amazed that just 10-years ago Google was a company whose browser was just catching on with the public while Motorola was one of the best known brand names in communications technology. Now Google not only owns Motorola but is streamlining them as if the new kid is teaching the old professional how business is supposed to be done. Who is the new kid lurking around who in 10-years will be teaching Cisco or some other big name how to do business?

2.  If you are on LinkedIn - watch for many from Motorola to suddenly find a new enthusiasm for networking.