Google to Sell Off Set-Top Box Motorola Business

Google's decision to buy Motorola Mobility took everyone by surprise, but the company is sticking to it, especially as the massive deal was only approved a few months ago.

Google was interested first and foremost in the tens of thousands of patents and patent applications Motorola held, a lot more than Google had at the time, just when the patent wars started escalating.

But $12.5 billion, €9.96 billion just for patents is a bit excessive, even for Google. The company is clearly interested in the hardware business too, as evident by the Nexus Q or the Google Glasses, if nothing else. Buying a mobile phone maker, even a struggling one, makes sense in a way.

Buying a set-top box maker though, makes less sense, but it came bundled as part of Motorola Mobility. But Google is looking to sell off the only part of Motorola that is actually doing well (relatively, it's losing money too).

Apparently, Google hired the consulting firm Barclays to find it buyers at a rumored price of around $2 billion, €1.59 billion.