|
 The company says it was able to produce the Moto G phones faster
than expected. The U.S. launch was initially planned for January.
But it is going on sale Tuesday.
The phone starts at $179 without a contract requirement. That
compares with $600 or more that people must typically pay for
high-end phones without traditional two-year service agreements.
With the Moto G, Motorola is trying to offer a device that is closer
to what's currently available on leading high-end phones, although
it won't work on the faster 4G LTE networks.
The version out Tuesday will work only with GSM networks, the type
used by AT&T, T-Mobile and most carriers around the world. It won't
work with Verizon and Sprint, which have CDMA networks. Verizon says
it will offer the CDMA version early next year. There's no immediate
word on Sprint's plans.
The phone's 4.5-inch screen, measured diagonally, is capable of
high-definition video, but only at 720p, not at the better, 1020p
standard found in leading phones. The resolution is 329 pixels per
inch, which is comparable to the 326 pixels in the latest, 4-inch
iPhones but short of the 441 pixels in Samsung's 5-inch Galaxy S4.
The $179 price is for a phone with 8 gigabytes of storage, not the
16 gigabytes typical with high-end phones. A 16-gigabyte version is
available for $199. The rear camera can take images at 5 megapixels,
which is less than leading phones.
[to top of second column] |
In the U.S., Motorola is targeting so-called prepaid accounts. Under
those plans, customers pay for devices up front, but are not tied to
two-year service agreements. Credit-challenged customers who don't
qualify for traditional plans often sign up for prepaid accounts.
Motorola is owned by Google Inc. Moto G, however, won't get Google's
latest Android operating system, Kit Kat, until early next year.
The phone launched two weeks ago. It's currently available in
Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Britain, Germany, France and
Canada.
[Associated
Press; ANICK JESDANUN, AP Technology Writer]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
