If you’ve been holding out for a bigger Motorola device, better stop holding your breath. The Nexus 6 might actually be the closest you’ll get to a large Motorola screen. Company president and COO Rick Osterloh revealed on Twitter, in no uncertain terms, that Motorola currently has no plans on making tablets. While that definitely doesn’t leave out future possibilities, there is one possible and practical reason why Motorola wouldn’t want to. It wouldn’t want to step on the toes of its new overlords, Lenovo.
The success of the Moto X in 2013 caused a renewed interest in Motorola, who has been struggling to come up with a hit mobile device ever since the crazy thin RAZR. Since it seemed Motorola still had what it takes, people started speculating, and indeed expecting, a Motorola tablet coming soon. Not that it didn’t try a tablet before, but the XOOM was nowhere near the Moto X in fame. In fact, Motorola actually lost the right to use the name in a trademark lawsuit. With Google and Motorola working hand in hand, it seemed that the time was ripe for a tablet comeback.
Fast forward to today, Motorola answers to a different boss, one that has its own tablets to sell. Lenovo has started a rather aggressive marketing campaign to put its Yogas, both Android and Windows, into the limelight. Given that push, it would be impractical if not irrational for it to allow Motorola to come out with a tablet that could potentially eclipse Lenovo’s own. Indeed, that seems to be the hidden meaning when Osterloh followed up with a not so subtle hint that Lenovo has some great tablets in that market.
The Motorola exec also shared a few more tidbits in his #AskRickO Twitter campaign. The first gen Moto X is still on the road to Android Lollipop for one. Motorola is also adopting a regular annual product cycle, which means we’re bound to see a new Moto X some time mid year. And as for the other things you shouldn’t wait for from Motorola, the company isn’t making a Moto X mini or compact nor one with a physical keybaord as well, like the rumored DROID 5. At least, Motorola is clear on its objectives.
SOURCE: @Rick Osterloh
VIA: Android Police
