Google's Motorola arm is attempting to streamline the process for iPhone users to switch to its flagship Moto X device by enabling it to extract contacts and calendar events from iCloud backup files. The new tool was announced yesterday by Motorola vice president of product manamgenet Punit Soni on Google+ (via GigaOM).

motorola_icloud_service
The service, which also has an official support page, is powered by syncing service Mark/Space and is done through Motorola's MotoMaker web service, which allows users to customize the color and details of a Moto X device. The iCloud transfer service can be intiatied after a user has bought a Moto X from MotoMaker and selects the "I have an iPhone" option from within the Migrate feature, and transfers the data to a Google Account after the user has signed into their iCloud acocount.

Addressing the new iCloud migration tool, Soni notes that "There is a long way to go, but its a start", which may indicate that the transfer service will see updates in the future.

Motorola originally announced the Moto X in August, with the device including a number of features such as a 720p AMOLED display and Touchless Control via Google Now integration. In February, handset manufacturer HTC launched a similar service for iPhone owners switching to the HTC One, but offered data migration direct from iPhone backups, which transfers more data compared to Motorola's iCloud sync service.

Top Rated Comments

KazKam Avatar
141 months ago
Yeah, that's why I don't switch to an Android phone, because I'm worried about transferring my iCloud data. /s

o.O
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Someyoungguy Avatar
141 months ago
I tried switching, and now I'm happily back, and it wasn't because of missing iCloud synch. They still need to solve photo and iTunes music synch, device backups that are thorough and reliable, and lots of usability issue with Android.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djtech42 Avatar
141 months ago
Have to admit this is a smart move
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kevinpdoyle Avatar
141 months ago
Yeah, that's why I don't switch to an Android phone, because I'm worried about transferring my iCloud data. /s

o.O

I doubt this is aimed at tech board readers so much as people who were on the fence about switching but don't want to deal with the hassle of transferring from one OS to the other. This is for the casual phone user and not the pro user.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Farplaner Avatar
141 months ago
I found it interesting that they just plain ask for your icloud username and password. If this wasn't Motorola it would basically be a security risk :o
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
141 months ago
Yeah, that's why I don't switch to an Android phone, because I'm worried about transferring my iCloud data. /s

o.O

I'm sure that for the majority of people who prefer iOS over Android to begin with, among the Top Ten Reasons.... "Because I desperately gotta have my iCloud!" is simply not one of them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...