Motorola is considering closing a handset design center in the U.K. The Birmingham facility employs some 120 staff, and the struggling handset maker has said it could reduce staff by as much as 50%. Motorola acquired the Birmingham design center in 2005 when it brought the assets of smartphone company Sendo.

“Since the beginning of 2007, Motorola has been public about its commitment to returning the company's mobile devices business to its market-leading position by improving profitability, driving product portfolio enhancements and rationalizing costs,” the company said in a statement. “As a result, it is proposed that the Birmingham site will need to reduce headcount by approximately 50% which may potentially require the closure of the site.”

The company said that all employees at the Birmingham center are under redundancy review, and that it will look into relocation options and work from home situations for some staff, should the site close.