Paying $12.5 billion, Google is acquiring mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility at $40 per share, 63 percent over its price at closing on Friday.
In a statement released Monday morning, Google CEO Larry Page says that the deal with "supercharge the entire Android ecosystem."
The acquisition should help Google's Android compete better with Apple, and stem what competition could emerge from the Microsoft-Nokia marriage.
Will Google be making moves to make Android development more like Apple's iOS referred to as "the walled garden" by critics? Fragmentation has been one of Android's gowing pains, but Google maintains that Android will remain open.
While Android may edge Apple's iOS on the pie charts in those monthly mobile OS surveys, it is done with dozens of Android devices from several makers. With rumors of Apple manuevering and its next iPhone volley into the market, the only better timing for Google to buy Motorola would have been sooner.
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.