Google is preparing lay off 20% of Motorola Mobility staff, or 4,000 jobs, and close one-third of its 94 worldwide offices.
The plan was confirmed in an 8K filing with the US Securities and Exchange commission, which also said the company would simplify its mobile range, moving from feature phones to more innovative devices.
In addition to the job cuts, Google has reduced Motorola management, letting go of 40% of its vice presidents. It will shrink operations in Asia and India, and centre research and development in Chicago, Sunnyvale and Beijing.
At the moment, Motorola does not seem to benefit from using Google’s mobile operating system Android, with Samsung and HTC taking in the majority of sales.
Previous suggestions that Google would sell off the set-top division Motorola Home were not covered in the filing. It had been mooted the sale process in early September, and complete the initial round of bidding in October.
