Motorola CEO assures users of a low-cost version of Moto X

While Google’s much awaited Moto X saw an official launch today, the price tag it comes with may be a bother for some users. Budget-conscious consumers looking for their next purchase may be put off by the $199 (Rs 12,090 approx) price tag and two-year contract that the device currently comes with. But the company is now assuring users that a cheaper edition of the smartphone is in the pipeline.

While talking to CNET, Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside has said that the flagship Moto X is just one of many new devices coming out under the Moto X brand in the coming months. Currently, the 16GB variant of the smartphone will be available with each of the four main wireless operators, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The actual price that the device will come for with a contract on any of these carrier networks has still not been revealed.

The next device on the company’s list, though, is a cheaper version of the current Moto X. The company will position this device for international markets where users don’t usually buy subsidised devices. The new device will also be positioned for the prepaid wireless market in the US, where wireless consumers have to pay in full for the devices.

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A low-cost version of the newly launched Moto X already in the pipeline

Motorola Mobility head honcho, while talking about this, said, “In many cases, the best smartphones retail for $600 or more. Finding devices that are priced much lower is difficult and consumers often have to make sacrifices in quality.”

Rationalising the company’s stance, Woodside said, “The experience of devices you can get for less than $200 is subpar right now. We want everyone to have access to affordable smartphones. Buying a new iPhone at full price for prepaid services costs quite a bit of money, especially families who are buying devices for multiple people.”

The possible specifications and launch date for the next smartphone were not revealed. The Motorola CEO said that, “Moto X is the brand that we are most focused on. And there is more to come. You will see additional products within months.”

The Google-owned company is not the only one getting into the budget-smartphone arena. Current smartphone leader, Samsung, has also begun rolling out lower cost versions of its flagship devices for developing and pre-paid markets. A good example of this is the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. And Apple may not be too far behind, with talk of a cheaper version of the iPhone doing the rounds. Thus far, people who want to buy a cheaper version of the iPhone have to settle for an older version of the device. Whether this device will actually see the light of day is a big question.