Verizon is apparently so excited about Motorola's Moto 360 smartwatch with metal bands that it already started taking pre-orders, although these models won't ship for a good while.
Motorola has recently announced that classy metal straps will be available for its new Moto 360 smartwatch, but these options will arrive later in the fall. The launch schedule hasn't changed, but it seems that Verizon wants to get a head start and start offering the goodies before others.
When Motorola made its announcement, it revealed that Best Buy would be offering the metal-band Moto 360 models for $299 each. The company also said it would offer such bands itself as separate purchases later on, for $79 each.
Although the launch of the metal-band Moto 360 models is still a good while away, Verizon Wireless has nonetheless started accepting pre-orders already. The carrier is taking pre-orders for the black and silver models for $299, and lists them with a shipping date of Nov. 11.
Other than the metal bands, these Moto 360 models are no different in terms of specs and features compared to the models that are already available for purchase. The gadget is one of the hottest wearable devices on the market right now and it has already drawn lots of interest, with initial stock vanishing in no time from Motorola's online store, Google Play, and Best Buy.
As a reminder, the Moto 360 comes with a 1.6-inch round display with a resolution of 320 x 290 pixels, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage capacity, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and IP67 certification for water resistance. The smartwatch also boasts wireless charging capabilities, and its inductive wireless charger also serves as a watch stand.
On the software side, the Moto 360 runs Google's recently-launched Android Wear platform for wearable devices. The smartwatch will pair with any smartphone running Android 4.3 or newer via the Android Wear app, downloadable from the Google Play store.
"Moto 360 is a classically-designed, modern timepiece powered by Android Wear. Comfortable, familiar, and crafted with the finest materials, Moto 360 keeps you up to date without taking you away from the moment," Motorola touted upon announcing the gadget. "Glance at your wrist to see updates or just speak to get the info you need. Keep track of your steps and know your heart rate thanks to a built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor. Enjoy battery life that lasts all day, then just place Moto 360 on its wireless charging dock at night."
The Moto 360 is currently available with leather straps for $249, with the aforementioned metal bands set to become available later this year. The smartwatch will cost $299 with a metal band. If you're eager to get a metal-band Moto 360 you can now pre-order one from Verizon, but, as previously mentioned, it won't ship until Nov. 11.
Lastly, it's worth pointing out that Motorola warns against using non-certified metal bands for the Moto 360, as they could affect the radio antenna found in the device's bezels.
