Motorola has attempted to start a fashion-conscious smartphone revolution with its customisable Moto X phone but, according to reports on Thursday, rival manufacturer HTC also considered getting in on the act.
Sources familiar with HTC's plans told The Verge the company planned to launch a customisation website allowing customers on the Sprint network in the US to create their very own HTC 8XT handset.
The report revealed the existence of a prototype Design Studio web app that would have allowed users colour control over the two-tone body, speaker, accents and engraving options.
However, the HTC 8XT device running Windows Phone 8 was launched in July minus those options with both the manufacturer and the carrier reportedly backing out over "cost and complexity" concerns.
Fashion sensitivities
With its new Moto X phone, Motorola is betting heavily on a perceived desire from smartphone users to carry a handset befitting of their fashion sensitivities, rather than the identikit offerings currently available.
The Moto X doesn't impress too much in terms of its mid-range specs, but Statesiders can use the Moto Maker website from two front frame colours, 18 back plate colours (new wood materials are coming soon) and 7 accent colours.
Buyers can also choose to have a personal message engraved on the back.
Meanwhile, reports claiming that Apple will launch its rumoured iPhone 5C budget handset in a range of bright colours akin to its iPod range could also be a sign that manufacturers are conscious that buyers want more choice over their phone's aesthetics.
As for HTC, it seems the plans have been benched for the time being, but if Motorola does well with the Moto Maker, the Taiwanese company's phones could get a little more colourful.
Source : techradar[dot]com
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