Motorola: Large Layoffs Coming At Mobile Phone Unit?

Are there large layoffs coming at Motorola ’s (MOT) mobile phone unit? The blog PhoneScoop.com reports that the handset division could lay off as much as half of its staff, citing “someone familiar with Motorola’s plans.” The company’s set-top box, networking equipment and enterprise device units treportedly would not be affected. The blog also says that Motorola will not have a booth at the CTIA Wireless trade show in April, and that it is “prepared” to trim the number of new phones it brings to market to just a dozen a year - and that the only smartphones it will produce will be based on Google ’s (GOOG) Android platform. Motorola this morning is up 7 cents, or 1.6%, to $4.53. (link)