Images via Google+ and Android Police
After a couple of days filled with speculation after an image popped up on Google+ revealing the Verizon Moto G in standard Verizon Prepaid retail packaging. Best Buy has confirmed that it has officially greenlit sales of the Android smartphone at stores with early stock starting as soon as today dependent on location. The phone was initially set for a January 9th launch with online sales also set to begin on that date.
The Verizon Moto G is functionally identical to the GSM versions sold directly by Motorola, the only difference being the CDMA radio. The $99.99 pricing also reflects the deeper than average subsidy in place for the phone, as the 8GB GSM version is currently being sold for $179.99, though no immediate word has been given on whether the version being sold by Best Buy is the 8GB or 16GB version.
However, the deep subsidy also means that Verizon MVNOs will not be able to activate the device until at least 6 months of it being active on a Verizon Prepaid account before being allowed to be activated elsewhere, while other Verizon MVNOs outright ban Verizon Prepaid devices from activation due to contractual stipulations, which means that many will have to wait to purchase the device unless it’s announced by their preferred virtual operator or another CDMA carrier without such restrictions.
Update: All Best Buy locations with early stock of the device have been ordered by Verizon to halt sales of the phone until the hard street date of January 9th. Customers with early purchases that also attempt to activate are now also being told that their phones cannot be activated until that date as well.
