Ever since Google bought mobile phone manufacturer Motorola early in 2012 we have been waiting to see just what amazing handset the two companies will bring our way. Of course, much of the excitement has been surrounding the fabled Phone X, which will be Google’s first in house built smartphone. Not only that, Phone X has been described as a game changer, and IF it does arrive then we expect to see something truly innovative.
However, Google is cooling down the extensive rumours surrounding Phone X by suggesting that the company is still clearing the decks at Motorola and trying to get everything sorted out. Of course, it is the way of tech companies to vehemently deny any tangible rumour, so what about it, is Google/Motorola developing the mythical Phone X or not?
Google’s CFO, Patrick Pichette said recently that the search giant had inherited around 18 months of “pipeline” that needs to be cleared at Motorola before any new products can be delivered. In other words, Google has nearly two years of products to clear up from the previous Motorola regime before it can get down to the business of its own products.
Pichette said back in January that while Motorola had some very good devices, none of them are/were standout with the wow factor. The 18 months of clearance he refers to is the cycle of the current Motorola product range, so does that mean Phone X is not coming?
In a word no, because Pichette also said that Google had been developing with Motorola in that 18 months, so the companies have still been working on products. Of course, we will now probably not see Phone X until after that 18 month clearance period, which would mean any time after September this year. That sort of puts the rumoured Phone X release of late 2013 in the same ball park, so we have not lost hope yet that we will see Phone X.