Motorola Reveals Moto 360 Smartwatch

Motorola has revealed the Moto 360,  one of the first devices to run Google’s new Android Wear OS for smartwatches which the company describes as “a truly modern timepiece”.

Unlike many other smartwatches, the device has a round face and comes with a leather strap, Motorola is  one of a number of partners using Wear OS alongside HTC, Samsung, Asus and LG.

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The device will include the ‘OK Google’ feature, seen recently for the first time in Motorola’s Moto X smartphone, so users can speak to their watch to operate apps and services such as voice search, text, maps or music.

“With just a twist of the wrist you can see who’s emailing or calling, what time your next meeting is or a friend’s latest social post,” wrote Lior Ron, vice president of product management, in a Motorola company blog.

The Moto 360 is listed as a Google device, despite the search engine giant agreeing to sell Motorola to Chinese manufacturer Lenovo in Januaray for £1.76bn, showing that the deal is not yet complete. Motorola executives stated at Mobile World Congress that the company would focus on making wearable devices for Lenovo, with senior vice president Rick Osterloh promising “some interesting wearable products” to be revealed later this year.

Also at MWC, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing stated his aim to make Motorola profitable within four to six quarters by increasing production and sales and targeting emerging markets.

“Don’t be scared by the $1 billion (£600m)-a-year loss,” he said, promising not to cut any jobs. “We will improve that even from day one. Google is very good at software, ecosystems and services, but we are stronger in the manufacturing of devices.”

The Moto 360 will be available in a variety of styles later this summer, with the US first to receive the device ahead of a global rollout. The company has set up a webpage for consumers to keep up to date with the latest details and register their interest.

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