Google to axe 4,000 Motorola jobs worldwide

Google Inc plans to cut 20 per cent (or about 4,000) of the workforce of Motorola Mobility and close a third of its offices worldwide as losses from the cell phone maker it bought for $12.5 billion last year mount.

Google said one-third of the jobs lost will be in the United States, but did not specify what other facilities would be affected.

The New York Times had earlier reported that Google has plans to curtail operations in Asia and India as it exits unprofitable business.

Google expects to take severance-related charge of up to $275 million, mostly in the third quarter, the company said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

However, Google, the world's best employer, said it is committed to helping the employees by providing generous severance packages, as well as outplacement services to help people find new jobs.

Google also expects to incur other related restructuring charges mainly in the third quarter.