Just three short months ago, China approved Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility, effectively finalizing the deal. Apparently, neither company is looking to waste any time, as Motorola's new Google-driven leadership has already revealed the basics of the big turnaround plan. The first step: lay off 20% of its employees (including about 1,330 in the US) and close 94 offices around the globe. Given that Moto's phone unit has only made a profit in 6 months of the last 4 years, that's not so surprising.

What is perhaps more interesting is that Googorola will cut the number of devices made to "just a few," including dropping low-end devices from the portfolio entirely. The new CEO dreams of making their phones truly top of the line, with voice sensors to recognize who is in the room, better cameras, and much longer battery life. Coupled with Moto's already class-leading radios and chips, that could be a true recipe for success. The best part? In order to push the envelope, Google has created a group called Advanced Technology and Projects, headed by -- get this -- a former DARPA employee. That certainly sets some high expectations.

Other changes include reducing their presence in Asia and India, and having Chicago, Sunnyvale, and Beijing being the lead R&D centers. Google's head of consumer marketing (Gary Briggs, the man behind the "simple and emotional" Google ads) has taken over marketing at Motorola and intends to follow a similar style with Moto while focusing on how the company's products are superior.

Only time will tell how well Google's new plan for Motorola's products will play out. But perhaps even more important is the relationship between the two units - and whether or not it alienates Google's largest Android partners.

[Source: New York Times]