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Is Google About to Acquire HTC?

Rumors are surfacing that a deal for the smartphone and VR HMD manufacturer could be in the works at Google.

Asif Khan

September 8, 2017 5:40 PM

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Reports are popping up that Google Inc. is in the late stages of talks to acquire HTC in some form. The Taiwanese company helps manufacture the very popular Google Pixel smartphone, so an acquisition of the smartphone division wouldn't be totally insane. It remains to be seen if HTC would sell the Vive VR headset division of the company, or if Google is even interested in competing with Facebook's Oculus Rift. 

Taiwanese website Commercial Times said the health of HTC's balance sheet and Google's hunger to "perfect [the] integration of software, content, hardware, network, cloud, [and] AI," is the driving Google's interest in the company. They went on to say that  Google may make a "strategic investment" or "buy HTC's smartphone R&D team" which suggests that the HTC Vive VR team would exist as its own.

It remains to be seen if this is just a rumor, but these deals tend to close on Monday mornings, so keep an eye out early next week. HTC had discussed spinning off their HTC Vive VR HMD business just last month.

Asif Khan

CEO/EIC/EIEIO

Asif Khan is the CEO, EIC, and majority shareholder of Shacknews. He began his career in video game journalism as a freelancer in 2001 for Tendobox.com. Asif is a CPA and was formerly an investment adviser representative. After much success in his own personal investments, he retired from his day job in financial services and is currently focused on new private investments. His favorite PC game of all time is Duke Nukem 3D, and he is an unapologetic fan of most things Nintendo. Asif first frequented the Shack when it was sCary's Shugashack to find all things Quake. When he is not immersed in investments or gaming he is a purveyor of fine electronic music. Asif also has an irrational love of Cleveland sports.