Motorola Moto X Successor Leaked? 'Moto G' Hints At Deeper Google Integration

Motorola has filed a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that may allude to a Google-centric follow-up to the Moto X. Motorola’s filing is for a smartphone, or smartphone accessory called the “Moto G.”

Motorola submitted the Moto G filing to the USPTO on Oct. 15. Companies sometimes trademark terms and model names without using them for a product, and the Moto G could be a follow-up or alternate version of the Moto X, or nothing at all.

Motorola’s trademark filing refers to a “Moto G” and categorizes the device under “Mobile phones, smartphones and accessories.” Based on how the Moto G is described in Motorola’s filing, it could merely be an accessory; however, a Verizon Wireless employee told mobile blog Droid-Life that a device called the Moto G was “coming soon.”

The Moto G could be the less-expensive version of the Moto X, which Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside referred to in an August interview with CNET. Woodside was attempting to allay concerns about the Moto X’s price and limited availability, since the $599 device is only available to customers in the U.S. and Canada, and he said that Motorola would offer “additional products within months.”

Sales of the Moto X have not yet had enough volume to stem losses from Google’s acquisition, but reception for the smartphone has been positive overall. The Moto X is notable for having Touchless Control, a voice gesture that is always listening for the control phrase, “Ok, Google now,” as well as a unique wrist gesture to unlock the camera, even when the Moto X is sleeping – two quick flicks of the wrist.

U.S. customers report that an update to the Verizon Wireless variant of the Moto X has begun rolling out that improves the device’s camera, but also places a 30-day time limit as to when customers can activate two free years of Google Drive storage (50GB). The Moto X update improves the camera’s exposure, focus speed and color accuracy. It also increases the accuracy of Touchless Control, fixes voice call issues as well as one where Motorola Assist improperly reads texts, improves the Motorola Migrate experience, and also fixed an issue that could sometimes prevent a lost Moto X from reporting its location to the Moto Care Lost Device Finder service.

A similar update has already been offered to Moto X owners on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular.

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