The Verge - Moto X: Google and Motorola try to stage an American comeback storyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2014-06-06T13:49:53-04:00http://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/42557972014-06-06T13:49:53-04:002014-06-06T13:49:53-04:00Motorola wants you to consider the Moto X so badly it will let you try one for a 'penny'
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<p>On Monday, consumers will be able to customize a Moto X smartphone and test it out for 14 days. And Motorola says it's charging just a penny for the opportunity. The one-day promotion is easily Motorola's most aggressive attempt yet to stir new momentum for the Moto X. Numerous flash sales (<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/9/5292788/good-deal-motorola-offers-free-chromecast-with-399-moto-x-purchase">sometimes with throw-ins</a>) over the past year haven't helped much; only a week ago, Motorola announced plans to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/30/5764836/motorola-shutting-down-us-assembly-plant">close down the Texas factory</a> where it currently assembles the Moto X and send those duties overseas.</p>
<p>We've reached out to the company for specifics, but it's safe to assume you'll need to provide a credit or debit card number for the penny promo and have enough funds to cover the full $349 Moto X retail cost in the event you decide it's...</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/6/5786442/motorola-promo-lets-you-try-moto-x-for-14-daysChris Welch2014-01-14T04:05:34-05:002014-01-14T04:05:34-05:00Moto X coming to Europe next month for €429 or £380
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<img alt="Moto X hero (1024px)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yN3lHuDzSPjeUZpk_kzA9aKMKw8=/0x0:1024x683/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/3009637/7F7A1677-hero.jpg" />
<figcaption>Moto X hero (1024px)</figcaption>
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<p>Motorola's flagship phone is yet to see release in Europe, but that's set to change next month — the company announced today that the <a href="http://www.theverge.com/products/moto-x/7228" class="sbn-auto-link">Moto X</a> will be available off-contract for €429 in France and Germany or £380 in the UK from February, <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57617178-94/moto-x-hits-uk-and-europe-in-february-for-380-429-euros/" target="_blank">according to <i>CNET</i></a>. The release follows last year's launch of the low-cost <a href="http://www.theverge.com/products/moto-g/7428" class="sbn-auto-link">Moto G</a>, which is focused on markets outside the US and retails for around £130 in the UK.</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/14/5307008/moto-x-coming-to-europe-next-monthSam Byford2014-01-09T16:34:35-05:002014-01-09T16:34:35-05:00Good deal: Motorola offers free Chromecast with $399 Moto X purchase
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<figcaption>moto x chromecast good deal</figcaption>
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<p>Is Motorola having trouble selling the Moto X? It certainly seems like a possibility. Only one week after <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/1/5263458/moto-x-now-permanently-priced-at-399-without-contract">a permanent price drop to $399</a>, the company is now throwing a Google Chromecast in for free. The offer is only valid on the $399 16GB and $449 32GB off-contract models, and it's only good until January 14th, but it's the fourth time in <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/27/5151898/motorola-moto-x-off-contract-349-cyber-monday">the</a> <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5174758/motorola-reveals-how-you-can-buy-349-moto-x">last</a> <a href="http://www.theverge.com/google/2013/12/20/5230680/350-moto-x-is-back-thanks-to-the-today-show">few</a> <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/1/5263458/moto-x-now-permanently-priced-at-399-without-contract">months</a> that Motorola has tried to spur demand with a deal.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/9/5292788/good-deal-motorola-offers-free-chromecast-with-399-moto-x-purchase">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/9/5292788/good-deal-motorola-offers-free-chromecast-with-399-moto-x-purchaseSean Hollister2013-12-20T15:22:10-05:002013-12-20T15:22:10-05:00$350 Moto X is back, thanks to The Today Show
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<figcaption>Moto X in hand (1024px)</figcaption>
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<p>If you didn't get a chance to buy an off-contract Moto X for just $350 on Cyber Monday <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/2/5167084/motorola-cyber-monday-moto-x-deal-delayed-website-problems">because of technical issues</a> or supply constraints, you might not have totally missed out. Motorola is offering a very similar promotion today, courtesy of <i>The Today Show. </i>Today's program offered viewers a special code that they could redeem for a huge discount on the flagship smartphone, and you might be able to get in on the action as well. Assuming supplies last, you can get 50 percent off a new Moto X on a two-year contract, or $150 off the price of an off-contract phone. Simply <a href="https://mdsupport.custhelp.com/ci/documents/detail/2/todayshow" target="_blank">go to Motorola's site</a> and sign up for the deal of your choice using "todayshow50" as your code, and if all goes well you'll get a link to the Moto Maker website where you'll...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/google/2013/12/20/5230680/350-moto-x-is-back-thanks-to-the-today-show">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/google/2013/12/20/5230680/350-moto-x-is-back-thanks-to-the-today-showSean Hollister2013-10-29T17:32:38-04:002013-10-29T17:32:38-04:00Moto X's affordable successor might be called the Moto G
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<img alt="via <a href="http://www.droid-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/moto_g_motorola1.png">www.droid-life.com</a>" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Spk8mdamWf2mpmnLZXG_ynwC5Fw=/0x11:942x639/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/1888621/moto_g_motorola1.png" />
<figcaption>via <a href="http://www.droid-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/moto_g_motorola1.png">www.droid-life.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>Motorola has been clear that <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/5/4588922/moto-x-review">Moto X</a> was just the start. The company's <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580314/motorola-ceo-calls-moto-x-a-brand-hints-at-cheaper-phones-and">building a whole new brand</a> around that colorful, customizable smartphone. Now, it appears the company has inadvertently leaked the name of the next model in the lineup: the Moto G. <i>Droid Life </i>and <i>Engadget</i> both spotted a new version of Motorola's website today with the name "Moto G" placed in an exceedingly prominent spot: the very first tab on Motorola's homepage, right next to the Moto X itself. That tab linked to "www.moto-g.com," a website that doesn't work. Unfortunately, Motorola didn't go so far as to leak any pictures or details, and has already removed the tab from the website as well.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/29/5043946/moto-g-appears-on-motorola-website-briefly">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/29/5043946/moto-g-appears-on-motorola-website-brieflySean Hollister2013-10-25T12:02:59-04:002013-10-25T12:02:59-04:00Moto X drops to $99.99 at Moto Maker, Sprint, and US Cellular
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<figcaption>Moto X cropped (1024px)</figcaption>
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<p>Creating a customized Moto X on AT&T just got much cheaper. Motorola's flagship phone has dropped to just $99.99 on contract for orders placed using its Moto Maker tool. Sprint and US Cellular have also halved the handset's cost. US Cellular is even tossing in a $75 gift card for customers that port an existing number to the carrier, making the final price $24.99. Unfortunately, the non-custom black and white 16GB models still cost $199 on-contract <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/verge/http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/motorola/moto-x-white.html#fbid=Vd93R1FUN1S" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">when purchased directly from AT&T</a>. Likewise, Verizon Wireless hasn't yet budged on its $199 asking price.</p>
<p>The larger 32GB variant has also seen a price cut at Moto Maker; it's now $149.99, down from $199. One of the immediate strikes against Motorola's flagship Moto X smartphone was price;...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/25/5028220/moto-x-drops-to-99-moto-maker-sprint-us-cellular">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/25/5028220/moto-x-drops-to-99-moto-maker-sprint-us-cellularChris Welch2013-10-21T09:00:39-04:002013-10-21T09:00:39-04:00How long will Google keep burning money on Motorola?
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<figcaption>Moto X cropped (1024px)</figcaption>
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<p>Over the last eight months, losses at Google's Motorola Mobility have accelerated despite three rounds of layoffs that slashed around 6,000 workers. The division is now on pace to <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/17/4849472/google-earnings-q3-2013" target="_blank">bleed $1 billion a year</a> out of the search giant’s bank account. And yet Google's stock topped a <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/18/4852158/google-stock-breaks-1000-for-the-first-time">record high $1,000 a share</a> today as investors showed renewed confidence in the company's future. The questions raised back in April seem more pertinent than ever: why exactly did Google buy Motorola? We’ve got another quarter of data and a new device to look at, but the answer still isn’t pretty.</p>
<p><q class="right">"I’m still scratching my head about why they did it."</q></p>
<p>Does a money pit like Motorola have a major impact on Google’s bottom line? In a lot of ways, the answer right now...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/21/4853808/google-motorola-losses-moto-x">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/21/4853808/google-motorola-losses-moto-xBen Popper2013-10-16T21:57:40-04:002013-10-16T21:57:40-04:00Motorola hopes to tempt iPhone users to Moto X with iCloud migration tool
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<img alt="Moto Maker tool (1024px)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_VGP9kIbDHwfk1YPbTEKANLnglo=/0x3:1024x686/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/3064983/VHO_089_MotoMaker_still-1024.jpg" />
<figcaption>Moto Maker tool (1024px)</figcaption>
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<p>Motorola's <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/16/4626038/build-a-phone-a-first-encounter-with-moto-maker-and-my-customized">Moto Maker site is primarily meant to help customize and purchase a new Moto X</a>, but today the company is adding another feature: the option to transfer your contacts and calendars from an Apple iCloud account to a Google account. The process, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/96362/p/30,6720,8696">Motorola's help document</a>, is relatively straightforward. Simply enter in your iCloud credentials, then your Google credentials, and your data will be transferred from one to the other. The service only appears to be offered to new customers who have completed the purchase process at Moto Maker.</p>
<p>It's a convenient feature that may help switchers, but Motorola doesn't quite deserve all the credit for it. The tool is "Powered by Mark / Space," according to <a target="_blank" href="https://plus.google.com/+PunitSoni/posts/2c3WgkbR53B">screenshots posted by...</a></p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/16/4846860/motorola-hopes-to-tempt-iphone-users-to-moto-x-with-icloud-migration">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/16/4846860/motorola-hopes-to-tempt-iphone-users-to-moto-x-with-icloud-migrationDieter Bohn