Google has not been in the handset business [before].
Sanyo Electric, although formerly an independent manufacturer of handsets, sold its handset business to Kyocera in 2008.
He helped build Motorola's handset business into a $28 billion global business largely because of the Razr phone.
Q. Do you think that Motorola will leave the handset business?
Analysts had come to expect lagging performance in Ericsson's handset business, where it trails its big rivals.
Google chairman says handset business will run 'independently', and won't comment on Steve Jobs' threat of 'thermonuclear war'
Nokia and Motorola now battle for market share in the Chinese handset business.
But that enterprise was plagued by manufacturing problems and in 2000 Qualcomm sold the handset business.
As a result, operating profits for the handset business were $147 million, down 39 percent from the $241 million reported a year ago.
Shares of Nokia have declined in recent weeks, with some analysts warning that its handset business is struggling, and investors reacted strongly to yesterday's warning.