Google just closed a deal with HTC, and so as of this month, they will welcome 2,000 engineers to their hardware division. For $1.1 billion, the company gains access to their IP and get the engineers to move to their headquarters in order to continue what Google calls the “big bet on hardware.”
The incorporation of the HTC engineers in the hardware area comes with the purpose of developing innovation and improvements on hardware and system display for the new generation of Pixel smartphones.
One of the reasons Google brought in HTC engineers into the developing team is because of HTC’s engineers’ breakthrough in 2005, being the first ones to add 3G performance in smartphones, the first “touch-centric phone” in 2007, and the first metal “unibody” phone in 2013.
Why Google and HTC matters for the future of Pixel phones
It was also pointed out that the HTC team had already been involved in the making of Google’s Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel2XL. It is to be expected from the team “to create radically helpful experiences for people around the world” aiming to the development of first-class hardware, software and AI.
Rick Osterloh senior vice president of Google’s hardware division gave the welcome to the brand new acquired team and to announce the completion of the deal.
“We’ve officially closed our deal with HTC […] and are welcoming an incredibly talented team to work on even better and more innovative products in the years to come.”
“These new colleagues bring decades of experience achieving a series of ‘firsts’, particularly in the smartphone industry—including bringing to market the first 3G smartphone in 2005, the first touch-centric phone in 2007, and the first all-metal unibody phone in 2013. This is also the same team we’ve been working closely with on the development of the Pixel and Pixel 2.”
HTC’s future on its own
In the past few years, HTC has been in decline losing $75 million, remaining a contractor hardware and software development company, until it was suggested for Google to acquire a new workforce for the hardware division, the 2000 engineers represent a 20% of HTC’s engineers.
HTC represents a great talent influx for google, and a great asset for the upcoming made by google home products, it is to be expected that the new addition to googles creative team will refine the new products to come.
Source: Google