Search engine giant Google has announced that they are to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn (£7.7bn).

A join statement said both companies had approved the deal, which should either be completed by the end of this year, or early 2012.

The deal is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

Motorola split into two separate companies only earlier this year.

Mobility develops and manufactures mobile phones.  Motorola Solutions supports wider technologies for corporate customers and governments.

Previously, Motorola was one of the world’s most successful mobile phone manufacturers.  In recent years it has fallen behind the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC.