Prediction: Motorola apps in Play Store and Web Store signal Moto X release shortly after today’s announcement [Updated]
I want to go on record right now with an early morning prediction of my very own: the Moto X phone will be made available for sale immediately following today’s big press event in New York, during which the Moto X will be officially unveiled. While official carrier release dates aren’t known yet, they have been leaked to be later in the second half of this month. However, other rumors and leaks have been floating around, indicating that stores are getting shipments early, even with the possibility of a full-on release later today.
Put simply, here’s why I think it will be possible to purchase the Moto X later today: two new Motorola apps have now been released, one in the Google Play Store and one in the Chrome Web Store. There is literally no reason for these apps to have been made available right now, unless Motorola and Google are planning on people having these phones in their hands later today (or at least tomorrow if they order today).
The Android app, Motorola Migrate, is designed to help people move their data to a new Motorola phone. Users simply open up the app on the old phone, scan a QR code with the new phone, and data such as text messages, call logs, SIM contacts, media, and even system settings like volume and screen brightness will all get transferred over to the new phone.
The Chrome app, Motorola Connect, lets you see text messages and calls coming into your Motorola phone on your computer’s Chrome browser. Just like Google Voice or MightyText, you can read and respond to texts from your computer, and see who’s calling before deciding if you should reach for your phone. The Chrome app is specifically compatible only with the Moto X, DROID ULTRA, DROID MAXX and DROID MINI.
If Google and Motorola really weren’t planning on making the Moto X available later today, then why were these apps released today? It’s quite possible that some carriers won’t be officially releasing the phone themselves until later in the month, while Motorola will start selling unlocked and unsubsidized phones itself, before anyone else.
In any case, we’ll find out for sure a little later today. I just wanted to put my unofficial prediction out there first.
Update: The Moto X isn’t quite on sale yet, but it’s coming soon. I still want to know what’s up with all these early app releases, though.
