Google will spend $500 million marketing Moto X Phone

The Wall Street Journal have said that Google will be spending a whopping $500 million marketing their flagship smartphone of the Motorola Mobility unit. This figure is greater than the marketing budgets of both Apple and Samsung, the smartphone market leaders.

The Moto X phone is due out sometime in Q3, although dates have yet to be confirmed. This ‘nudge' proves that the company are serious about taking market share from both Apple and Samsung.

The report says “What many people don’t realize about Google is that it has become a master of the nudge. Everything from Android itself (which doesn’t make any money directly) to its Nexus phones and tablets (which are reputed to be doing no better than breakeven), from its 2008 bid for radio spectrum (which it lost, perhaps purposely, to get Verizon and others to buy it and eventually expand wireless Internet access) to its new fiber broadband service in various cities–all those moves were intended to push other developers, hardware partners, carriers, and competitors to improve their offerings. And the better the hardware, software, and Internet access they provide, the better Google’s business does.”

Motorola cost Google $12 billion so their focus is well placed. Why wouldn't you support such a hefty takeover deal by pushing the flagship product globally?

The Moto X phone is said to be on a par with the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, costing around $200 in the US with a contract deal, or $600 without.

The Verge however say that the pricing will be more ‘midrange', costing just $199 off contract. We aren't quite sure how Google could sell a $200 unlocked phone that could compete against the market leaders.

Google are said to have been able to stop carriers installing a range of bloatware on their smartphones and to offer the Moto X with a ‘standard' Android install.

Forbes say “The other great shortcoming of Android phones is that many cannot be updated to the latest software until the carrier decides to allow it. That has led to fragmentation of Android and accompanying annoyance by users who may or may not get the latest features and apps on their phones. So by setting a shining example of a high-end smartphone that works like Google intended Android to work, the company could push the entire industry toward better software, more frequent updates, and thus faster innovation.”

Kitguru says: Q4 the time for Moto X? We can't help but feel the name sounds more like an off road Ducati bike.

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