Google's Moto G smartphone went on sale on Tuesday in the United States. far ahead of its expected January 2014 debut.
Motorola announced that the Moto G is now available on Motorola.com with no contract, no SIM lock and an unlockable bootloader for $179 with 8GB of storage or $199 for 16GB. The move comes just in time for the holiday shopping season.
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Although the Moto G was revealed earlier this month, the device wasn't scheduled to be available for purchase in the U.S. until January. According to a CNET report, the early launch came due to strong demand overseas and the ability to ramp up the manufacturing process more quickly than expected.

Moto G is the low-cost version of its flagship Moto X smartphone and is predicted to be a major player in the emerging markets. The device, which runs Android 4.3 Jellybean and can be upgraded to KitKat starting in early 2014, comes with a 4.5-inch HD display and touts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. The design features a curved back (similar to the Moto X) and users can select an option from several different colors for the back cover. You can simply buy a new shell to change the color.
The smartphone is also currently available for purchase in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, UK, Germany, France and Canada. The company said the phone will be in more than 30 countries with 60 partners by early 2014, including ones in Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Image: Motorola
The Moto G is Motorola's low-cost smartphone for emerging markets. It starts at $179 for an 8GB version running Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean" and supports dual SIM cards.
The Moto G's 4.5-inch screen has a resolution of 1,280 x 720.
Motorola is offering several different colors for the back cover so users can personalize their phone.
The Moto G weighs just 5 ounces.
A special Grip Shell sports a rubberized edge for a better grip and impact protection.
The Flip Shell adds a foldable cover for the phone.
If you ever want to change the color of your Moto G, you can buy a new shell.