Motorola spends on Good Technology

Motorola has bought Good Technology, specialists in enterprise mobile computing software and services.

Although terms of the transaction have not yet been released, it is known that Good Technology - which is a major player in enterprise mobile email - will be incorporated into Motorola's mobile devices business. Motorola already uses Good's mobile-messaging software on its Q phone.

Ron Garriques, Motorola's mobile devices business president, said: "The addition of Good Technology will advance Motorola's vision of seamless mobility. Good Technology's software and managed service deliver a rich user experience, low cost of ownership, industry-leading security and enterprise-class support.

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"This acquisition will continue to strengthen Motorola as a leading provider of mobility devices and solutions both for enterprise customers and consumers."

Analyst Jack Gold, of J Gold Associates, said the move would "dramatically reshape the wireless email marketplace". Describing it as a delayed reaction to Nokia's acquisition of Intellisync, Gold also pointed out that it could "severely constrain a major relationship that has put Good on the map - the one with Palm and the Treo devices, a very large part of Good's business".

Gold suggested Palm itself might now be more keen to be acquired.

He also pointed to Motorola's recent acquisition of Symbol as another sign the manufacturer is keen to push further into the enterprise sector. But he suggested the new move was "questionable" on Motorola's part, saying: "I don't think it will particularly help their device sales and I'm not sure they will be able to successfully manage this type of acquisition."

David Meyer writes for ZDNet UK