Motorola changed hands this week with Google selling off the hardware manufacturer it acquired in 2012 to Lenovo for US$2.91 billion. Along with the well-received Moto X and Moto G, Lenovo has also picked up the Motorola product roadmap and its development pipeline.
Much as Google did when it first acquired Motorola, Lenovo will need to decide what to do with the devices currently under development. According to one Chinese source which apparently “has a pretty flawless track record” and who posted details on Weibo, Lenovo is leaning towards keeping most if not all of that roadmap. If so, it could well be 2015 at the very earliest before we see the first Motorola devices designed by Lenovo.
What can we expect from Motorola this year? Unsurprisingly, a Moto X successor appears to be in the cards. The company is also said to be planning a smartwatch (and other wearables?) as well as a 6-inch phablet (the Motorola Xplay?). Specific details were not provided about any of the upcoming devices.
Device customization also appears set to stay with MotoMaker. Not so clear is the fate of Motorola’s Texas manufacturing assembly appears. While keeping it is certainly a possibility, Lenovo may also move it to one of its existing facilities. Lenovo last year opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Whitsett, North Carolina, and also has facilities in other countries, including China.
The Motorola acquisition is also likely to face a fair amount of scrutiny as it goes through the necessary regulatory reviews. These will take time and it will be several months at least before the acquisition closes (assuming that it does). In the meantime, it is likely to be business as usual at Motorola.
Source : G for Games