Google unveils UK launch date for Moto X smartphone
Google has revealed the UK launch date for its flagship Moto X smartphone, some four months after it launched in the US.
From 1 February the handset will be available in the UK and will go on sale the same week in France and Germany.
The Moto X was released in the US in August, on the back of Google’s $12.5bn acquisition of Motorola Mobility in 2012.
However, reports have suggested that the model has struggled to make an impact in the competitive US smartphone market, and this month Google was forced to slash the price of the cheapest version of the handset by $100.
Commenting on the UK release, Andrew Morley, vice president and general manager of Motorola UK said: “I think we learned a lot with Moto X in the US. We launched with one partner. Here, we’re launching with wide distribution from day one.”
The main feature of the device is that it is activated via a simple voice command – ‘OK Google Now’ – which allows users to then search or make calls without having to touch it.
In the UK, the Moto X will be priced at £380 without a contract with a price starting from £25 on contract from all major networks and retailers.
It is also believed that the Moto Maker, the online customisation tool that allows customers choose the colour, pattern and finish of the Moto X, has not been made available in the UK.