Google's sale of faded mobile phone star Motorola Mobility to Chinese computer titan Lenovo promises to strengthen Apple's rivals at home and abroad, according to analysts. The US Internet goliath on Wednesday agreed to sell Motorola to Lenovo for $2.91 billion, after a lackluster two-year effort to turn around the smartphone maker it bought for $12.5 billion. What might appear on the surface to be a money-losing blunder by Google could actually play out as a shrewd maneuver tightening bonds with allies who make Android-powered smartphones and providing Lenovo ammunition to challenge iPhones and iPads in China and other coveted markets. The Motorola buy provides Lenovo footholds in smartphone and tablet markets where it is eager to gain traction while acting as a peace offering to Samsung and other partners that make devices powered by Google-backed Android software.



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