Hello Moto? Motorola denies return of iconic Razr flip phone

LONDON — Motorola has moved to deny rumours it is re-releasing its Razr flip phone after an official advert featuring the device appeared online.

The technology company, now owned by Chinese firm Lenovo, is due to unveil a range of new products — including mobile devices — at the Lenovo Tech World conference in San Francisco on Thursday.

But a company spokesman denied this would include a return for the Razr — the hinge-based mobile phone that sold more than 130 million units globally after launching in 2004.

A short teaser video for the Lenovo and Motorola event released last week heavily featured the Razr, showing an American high school from the early 2000s with students using the phone.

The advert led to speculation that a new version of the device would be launched running Google’s Android software, as an alternative to the all-metal, large screen smartphones.

However, a Motorola statement has since denied these rumours.

“We love how the throwback video has been embraced and the excitement it has generated,” said the company.

“The Razr was one of the most iconic phones ever designed and redefined how stylish a mobile phone can be. While Moto is not re-releasing the Razr, we will transform mobile again on June 9.”

Rumours of a Razr re-launch follow the fact that parent company Lenovo has fallen behind fellow Chinese manufacturers Huawei and Vivo in the most recent smartphone shipment figures reported by research firm IDC.

It had been suggested that revamping the Razr could help boost sales.

Among the hardware expected to be revealed at the Tech World event is believed to be a phone made in collaboration with Google’s Project Tango, a technology that enables a phone to 3D-map its surroundings and build an image of where it is.

It has been suggested the technology could be used to further virtual reality experiences and indoor mapping. The TELEGRAPH