Episode 45: HTC, Google and the Future of Mobile

Acquired is back and live on the scene! After months of speculation, Google announces today their acquisition (err, "Cooperation Agreement”) of a large portion of HTC’s hardware division. What does this mean for the future of mobile? Can Google transform itself into a vertically integrated device company and compete directly with Apple? Most importantly, when will we see more Beats Android handsets??? (We hope never)

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Topics Covered Include:

• The origins of HTC as a Taiwanese OEM, dating back to the Compaq iPAQ and Palm Treo 650!
• HTC’s long history with Google, starting as the manufacturer of the first Android phone, the HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1
• HTC’s ownership of Beats, for a hot minute
• Google’s own winding history in hardware, with its Motorola acquisition in 2011 and divestiture in 2014
• Google & HTC’s joint work on the Pixel smartphones in 2016
• And much analysis and speculation on what this means for Google, Apple, Samsung, vertical vs horizontal business models and more!

The Carve Out:

• Ben: Odesza’s new album A Moment Apart
• David: Bruce Springsteen on Fresh Air