Motorola Profits from Android, to Launch 22 Smartphones

Motorola yesterday posted a better-than-expected profit for the first time in over three years, due to successful releases from its Google Android smart phones.
Android, which investors saw as an opportunity to jolt the corporation's lagging profits, pulled off the challenging feat. And the Schaumburg, Ill.-based company said it plans to launch an additional 22 smart phones throughout 2011.

Although Motorola plans to split into two separate ventures early next year, selling off part of its networks business to Nokia-Siemens, it will still ship over 9.1 million phones each quarter, including 3.8 million of such smart phones.

In the coming year, co-CEO Sanjay Jha will oversee the production of new mobile devices, while Co-CEO Gregory Brown will take control of the mobility portion, including initiatives in public safety, government and iDEN network units.

In the third quarter, Motorola's profits surged to nearly $109 million, up from a $12 million a year ago.

Controversy continues to steepen as tensions heat up between Motorola and Apple. Verizon, a long-time partner with Motorola, is planning to sell the iPhone early next year. Motorola, meanwhile, has also seen its profits driven by the release of the Droid X and Droid 2, which are carried by Verizon itself.

Impacts are projected by industry analysts, but only for the short term. Analysts estimate that the iPhone release to Verizon will undoubtedly hurt Motorola, but not for a prolonged period of time.

In the past four years, Motorola has been attempting to catch up with similar mobile device manufacturers, like Apple, Nokia and Samsung.