10 | Business World Magazine |
May 2013
MOTOROLA’S “X” FACTOR
Motorola has confirmed it will make a Texas-sized come-back into the cellphone market it once so
dominated as it begins manufacturing the Moto X smartphone at 500,000 square-foot facility near
Fort Worth, Texas, formerly utilized by Nokia. That operation is anticipated to employ more than
2,000 workers whose efforts will ultimately result in the first smartphone manufactured in Amer-
ica. During the recent executive forum known as AllThingsD staged in Palos Verdes, California,
Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside announced that the X Phone will be launched with a line of
other newly designed smartphones. He said the Moto X will be complemented by a lighter, sleeker
LED display than those traditionally deployed, and will be additionally comprised by advanced
sensors and gyroscopic functionality to render it capable of detecting whether
the smartphone is in the user’s hand, or tucked in a pocket, or traveling down
the highway to more efficiently adjust applications for specific interactions, or
power down un-needed features. Woodside said Moto X will know what a
user wants to do even before the user does – a moto-marvel
of technology. Google Inc purchased Motorola last year for
$12.5 billion and over the time that has followed, Apples
iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy line have staked major
claims in consumer favor, but Woodside believes Mo-
torolo’s pioneering technological prowess will aid in
their production of devices equally capable of captur-
ing consumer appeal. Moto X is anticipated to make
its move into the market by October of this year.
