Motorola to sell phone through Google store

Motorola is to market an Android phone directly to consumers through Google's new online store, in much the same way as the Nexus One smartphone is sold.

Sanjay Jha, the company's chief, revealed the as-yet-unnamed device in an analyst call on Thursday, following Motorola's results announcement.

"In smartphone, we plan to launch at least 20 devices, including at least one direct-to-consumer device with Google," Jha said.

The company has launched several Android phone models in recent months, including the Droid (the Milestone in Europe), which has proved popular in the US.

Motorola's results for the fourth quarter of 2009 showed the company rebounding from the haemorrhaging of cash that characterised most of its previous results over the last year and a half.

"We are pleased with the meaningful progress we made in 2009 in further improving our cost structure and strengthening the operations of the Mobile Devices business," Jha said in a statement. "Our first Android smartphone devices have been very well received. We look forward to broadening our handset portfolio in 2010."