How about an OS that lets a phone act as a cloud gateway and laptop hybrid? That sounds like science fiction but Motorola already has experience with its Android-based Atrix phone. This product initially looked promising but we here at PC World . A key feature of the Atrix is that it can drive a standard desktop monitor and includes a Citrix client that connects to a Xen desktop server by which a Windows desktop can be accessed. I've that this could lead to a new way of working and it might be that, with the Atrix phone, Motorola engineers realized they'd stretched Android in ways it isn't designed for. Hence the need for a new operating system.

If I had to place a bet, the latter theory is where my money would go. However, the truth will probably be duller: Motorola might mistakenly believe a mobile OS of its own, that ostensibly aped Android and iOS. will give it a unique selling point. Corporations are prone to delusional bursts of ego such as this. The fact is that most buyers looking for smartphones right now are happy to choose between Android and Apple products.

Keir Thomas has been making known his opinion about computing since the last century. His latest . You can learn more about him at . His Twitter feed is