The Moto X has previously been available only for AT&T customers, but tomorrow Verizon Wireless customers will be able to order the phone online, and eventually they will be able to buy the phone in stores and customize the phone in whatever way they choose.
Motorola's smartphone is capable of being modified in several ways, from the front and back plates to the volume and power button that can be changed depending on what color the user wants to make them. However, the only way to modify the Moto X this way is to be a AT&T customer, as they will get exclusive access to the MotoMaker website that creates the Moto X before other service providers can offer the service. When Verizon Wireless customers get the device, they will be able to choose from a black or white version of the device, even in the online store. However, eventually they will get access to the full range of customization options afforded to AT&T customers now.
In other Moto X news, a teardown of the device and the components within it has revealed the true cost of the Moto X. All Things D broke down the Moto X piece by piece, revealing that the device uses an applications processor from Qualcomm that is around a year old or so, plus two Texas Instrument chips. These different chips and other components make the phone cost around $209 in parts alone. The manufacturing cost adds an addition $12 to the phone, making the total cost $221. The manufacturing cost is slightly higher than most phones, due to the fact that the phone is made in a plant in Texas, as opposed to places such as China or Taiwan, where it is cheaper to manufacture electronics. IHS analyst Wayne Lam explained the thought process of Motorola as such:
"What Google and Motorola are trying to do is not play the game of 'bigger is better' that everyone else is playing. They are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the pack and push the user experience in a new direction...Motorola is paying a premium for a made-in-America phone, but it's also giving them the ability to do the customization work easily."
The Moto X is being sold for $579 with no contract or $199 with a two year commitment to a service provider. Look out for more Moto X news as the smartphone continues to roll out to other service providers and users gain access to the wealth of customization options.