Google’s Eric Schmidt ensures that Android will remain free

Google’s Eric Schmidt, in a recent trip to South Korea, announced again that Android will remain free in the future, even after their acquisition of Motorola Mobility is complete. This was probably to stem fears that Google may start charging other OEMs for the usage of Android on their phones once Google had acquired Motorola Mobility, who was a handset manufacturer as well.

These fears do have their merit, since Google would have their own handset manufacturer, why not streamline the process and follow in Apple’s footsteps with the iPhone and iOS. However Eric Schmidt has pointed out that this acquisition was aimed at helping in their rivalry against iOS, especially since the deal would net Google a cool 17,000 patents.