Motorola Solutions

Motorola Solutions. It is an American data communications and telecommunications equipment provider that specializes in mission-critical communications infrastructure, devices, software, and services. The company is a leading global provider for public safety and enterprise security solutions, serving government agencies and large commercial clients. Its core offerings include land mobile radio systems, command center software, and video security analytics, with a significant presence in the North American market.

History

The company's origins trace back to the founding of the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in 1928, which was renamed Motorola in 1947. For decades, the broader Motorola was a leader in sectors like consumer electronics and semiconductors. A major corporate restructuring began in 2011, when the historic Motorola was split into two independent, publicly traded entities: the consumer-focused Motorola Mobility was spun off to Google, while the remaining institutional and government business was renamed Motorola Solutions. This split followed the earlier spin-off of its semiconductor division as Freescale Semiconductor in 2004. Since its independence, the company has focused exclusively on serving the mission-critical communications market, evolving from a hardware-centric radio manufacturer into a provider of integrated software and cloud-based solutions.

Products and services

The portfolio is built around secure, reliable communications networks and intelligence platforms. A flagship product line is its ASTRO 25 digital trunked radio systems, which are used by agencies like the New York City Police Department. The company also manufactures a wide range of two-way radio devices, including the APX series of portable radios and mobile radios for vehicles. In software, its Command Central suite integrates computer-aided dispatch, video management, and analytics for public safety answering points. The Avigilon brand provides video security cameras and artificial intelligence-powered video analytics. Services include comprehensive system design, managed services, and maintenance for large-scale networks like the nationwide FirstNet authority broadband network.

Acquisitions and divestitures

Growth has been significantly driven by a strategic acquisition program to expand its technology stack. Major purchases include the 2012 acquisition of Psion, a maker of rugged mobile computers, and the 2014 purchase of Airwave Solutions, which operated the United Kingdom's national public safety network. In 2016, it acquired Rally, a provider of broadband push-to-talk applications. A transformative deal came in 2018 with the purchase of Avigilon, a leader in video surveillance solutions. Further strengthening its software capabilities, it acquired WatchGuard Inc., a maker of in-car video systems, in 2019, and Pelco, another video security firm, in 2020. The company divested its biometrics business to Safran Identity & Security in 2016.

Corporate affairs

The company is headquartered in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois, and is a constituent of the S&P 500 index. Gregory Q. Brown has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the 2011 separation. It operates globally, with significant research and development facilities in locations like Plantation, Florida and Vancouver. The corporation is a major contractor for the United States Department of Defense and various federal government of the United States agencies. It actively participates in standards bodies such as the Project 25 technology standards committee and is a key partner in deploying solutions on the FirstNet network built by AT&T.

See also

* Motorola * Motorola Mobility * Public-safety answering point * Land Mobile Radio System * FirstNet

Category:American companies established in 2011 Category:Telecommunications equipment companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Chicago