Motorola posts fourth quarter loss

Motorola Mobility sank to a fourth-quarter loss, as it battled fierce competition in the smartphone and computer tablet market.

The company is also trying to close its proposed 12.5 billion US dollars sale to Google.

Motorola Mobility Holdings lost 80 million US dollars, or 27 cents per share, compared with a profit of 80 million US dollars at the same time in 2010. Revenue was flat at 3.44 billion US dollars.

The company said adjusted earnings were 61 million US dollars or 20 cents per share. Analysts’ expected profit of 26 cents per share and revenue of 3.62 billion US dollars, according to FactSet.

The company released preliminary numbers three weeks ago. Analysts lowered their earnings estimates then when Motorola warned the period would be a letdown.