Moto 360 Watch Release Date Rumors Fly, Motorola Sends Mixed Messages On Price (Update)

Motorola has plans to release the Moto 360 in July with a $350 price tag, according to Journal du Geek, a French website. Motorola Mobility did not respond to an email requesting comment, but often refuses to verify such reports.

The public will find out more next month, as Google plans to reveal more information about Android Wear at its annual Google I/O developer’s conference, which begins on June 25.

Update: Motorola on Wednesday announced a Moto 360 design contest that disputes the site's report, offering the smartwatch as a prize with an average retail value (ARV) of $249. While not an official retail price, the ARV indicates that Motorola is planning on offering the Moto 360 at a lower price point than Journal du Geek claims.

Motorola has said the Moto 360 would launch this summer. It did not mention whether it would come first to the U.S., with a later release for Europe and the rest of the world.

International Business Times predicted in March that Motorola would launch the Moto 360 for $279 to $349, depending on what options the smartwatch ships with. Journal du Geek says the smartwatch will cost €249 ($341 U.S.).

Motorola has released images of the Moto 360 with both leather and steel bands, and accidentally leaked leather color options online earlier this year.

Motorola may launch other Android Wear smartwatches at lower price points than the Moto 360, as well as other product segments, said Mark Randall, senior vice president of operations. “We are completely focussed, top to bottom, on the whole market.”

So if the Moto 360 does come to market this July with a $350 price point, would you call that more in line with the Nexus pricing scheme, or a “premium” product -- considering that Samsung offers the Gear 2 at $299, the Gear 2 Neo at $199, and Pebble offers the Steel for $249? Let us know in the comments below.

Thomas Halleck is on Twitter @tommylikey. He responds to questions and tips.