We were told that Motorola's new flagship would be coming soon, and we have not been disappointed. According to a press release issued this morning, the Moto X will be available at AT&T retailers and in the online store on August 23rd. Customers can order a customized model from the Moto Maker website, or use special kiosks in stores to begin the color and text selection process.

The 16GB model of the Moto X will be $199.99 on a two-year contract, with the AT&T exclusive 32GB version running $249.99. (You'll probably want the upgrade: the Moto X has no MicroSD card slot.) Unsubsidized prices are $579.99 and $639.99, respectively. Retail stores will have black and white versions, plus demonstration kiosks with customized colors. As a bonus, all customized orders placed through Moto Maker will get a free Motorola Skip accessory, which is nice, considering the ridiculous $20 retail price. Phones should ship in four days or less.

If you're too impatient to wait another week, you might want to sign up for email alerts at the AT&T Moto X page. According to the press release, Moto Maker ordering will open up on the 19th for "a few lucky customers who registered" for email alerts.

Verizon and Sprint have confirmed that they'll carry the Moto X, and so has Rogers in Canada, but none of them have committed to a release date. T-Mobile customers will be able to purchase a phone directly from Motorola. There will also be Developer Editions for AT&T and Verizon, and the phone will be sold on the Google Play Store at some point. Eventually the Moto Maker system will be available to other carriers - Verizon has specifically stated that they'll get access to it.

Beginning Aug. 23, you can pick up the new Moto X from AT&T* or be the first to create your customized Moto X online. The customizable version of Moto X is the first smartphone designed by you, assembled in the USA and available only for AT&T. To see more Moto X features in action, check out this video.

At launch, customers can begin their Moto X customization at AT&T stores and through www.att.com/MotoX. Visit your nearest store** to see physical color samples before making your purchase. Woven white and woven black models will also be available.

AT&T will offer the 16 GB Moto X for $199.99 and the 32 GB Moto X for $249.99 with a two-year agreement. With AT&T Next, the 16 GB model is available for $27 per month and the 32 GB model is $32 per month.

Starting August 19, AT&T will offer a few lucky customers who registered*** at www.att.com/MotoXan opportunity to design and receive their Moto X before the general public.****

Designing your own Moto X is simple. Using Moto Maker, you can select:

  • Color options for the front and back
  • Accent colors for the power key, volume key and camera ring
  • Adding your name or short message on the back of the phone
  • Unique wallpapers
  • Custom power-on message
  • Memory capacity – 16GB or 32GB

Once you’ve designed and purchased your custom device, it will be assembled in the USA and shipped to you for free in four days or less**** with no hassle returns.

The Moto X runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), and features a 4.7-inch HD display. Other device highlights include:

  • Touchless Control lets you check the weather, get directions, make a call or search for just about anything—just by saying “OK Google Now.” Because you tune Moto X to your voice, it’s always ready to respond to you.
  • The Quick Capture function makes the 10 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and 2 megapixel front-facing camera even easier to use. Just pick up your Moto X, twist your wrist twice and you’re ready to shoot. Touch anywhere on the screen, and you’ll get an amazing shot. Its Clear Pixel technology can capture dark scenes or stop motion blur in bright light.
  • With Active Display, information efficiently appears on the screen. It doesn’t interrupt and it’s battery friendly. You don’t have to wake up Moto X to look at the time or see your messages, satisfying that constant itch to check your phone.

Keeping your phone protected with passwords can be cumbersome. Now with a new accessory called Motorola Skip, you can unlock your phone with a single tap. Skip is a small clip you can wear on a shirtsleeve, shirt hem, belt loop, or wherever it feels most comfortable. Additionally, it comes with Skip dots, which work just like Skip but in sticker form. Stick them in convenient places like a car dashboard or nightstand. Skip allows you to keep information safe, but still have easy access to what you need most. Plus, for a limited time, Motorola Skip will be included for free in all Moto Maker orders.