Motorola Could Announce Moto X European Variant Release Date Next Week

As the International Consumer Electronics Show winds down in Las Vegas, Motorola revealed it has something up its sleeves, especially for Europe. Many smartphone fans worldwide caught up in the buzz surrounding the Moto X were disappointed to find that it would be released only in North and South America.

But an invite sent out to select members of the press states, “Following the global launch of the Moto G, we would like to invite you to join us on the next step of Motorola’s journey, as we welcome a new addition to the European Motorola family of products.” The invitation does not explicitly mention a Moto X variant destined for Europe, but the event is scheduled for next Tuesday in London.

Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside said in May that the Moto X would launch alongside a “handful” of devices. So far, the Moto X and Moto G and the Droid family for Verizon are the only major offerings from the manufacturer since Woodside’s announcement. The only device from the bunch available worldwide is the Moto G, which starts at £135 ($179 USD), so a higher-end offering along the lines of the Moto X is likely.

Motorola has not announced any other details about the mystery device, leading some sites to speculate that it could instead be a non-smartphone product, like a wearable. But Motorola has said several times since the Moto X release that it had more to offer Europe and the rest of the world.

On Jan. 1, Google announced it would permanently lower the price of the Moto X to $399 (16GB), down from $549, undercutting rivals like Samsung and Apple, which are offering the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S at $600 or more for new models without a contract. The Wall Street Journal reported at the time that the move would undercut the profit margins of rivals, as the Moto X cost roughly $200 to manufacture, about the same as the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Are you in Europe and eagerly awaiting the release of a Moto X equivalent? Do you think Motorola will release a smartphone, or another product entirely? Let us know in the comments below.

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