It's no secret that Motorola has been facing some tough times lately; between multistage mass layoffs, cost-cutting measures like forced vacations for the staff, and the company's first red ink bath in human memory, things have been a bit on the grim side. We suppose it was only a matter of time, but beleaguered (that's right, we said the "B"-word) Motorola has finally resorted to selling off chunks of itself in a bid to become profitable again. Fortunately-- or unfortunately, depending on your perspective-- the chunk that makes PowerPCs is still firmly in Motorola's grasp.

The limb of Motorola that did get severed is the "Integrated Information Systems Group," at least according to the Reuters article kindly pointed out to us by faithful viewer mowabb. And who shelled out $825 million for the portion of Motorola that "provides defense and government customers with technologies, products and systems for secure communications and integrated communication systems"? Why, none other than defense contractor General Dynamics. Which means that 3,000 soon-to-be-former Motorola employees will soon be working for the company producing the "Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer, Abrams M1A2 digitized main battle tank, wheeled assault vehicles, munitions and gun systems." These ain't no cell phones, buddy.

Now, anything involving giant defense contractors and the movement of large sums of cash tends to bring the conspiracy theorists out of the woodwork, so allow us to highlight what will undoubtedly become a key point in many a paranoid scenario: General Dynamics also just happens to make the Gulfstream V jet. Yes, that's right-- a large unit of Motorola has just been sold to the company that produces Steve Jobs's personal Business Jet of Choice. Do with that little tidbit what you will.

As for Motorola itself, CEO Chris Galvin states that the sale of the IISG will allow the company to focus on "business areas central to its long-term strategy." We presume that means mobile phones and PowerPCs-- though, of course, Wall Street has been badgering Motorola to sell off its semiconductor business for a while, now. Some may choose to interpret the IISG sale as a sign that despite Motorola's insistence to the contrary, the company might not be quite so averse to the idea of unloading its chipmaking business on an interested third party after all. Let's see, here... Apple's got how much cash in the bank?...