Motorola Inc. started selling the next generation model of its popular, ultra-slim Razr cell phone in South Korea Friday, ahead of a global launch scheduled for July.

“We’re releasing our new phone in the Korean market first in recognition of tech-savvy and fashion-aware Korean consumers,” Motorola Korea Inc. said in a statement.

The new phone, called “Razr2,” will be available via SK Telecom Co., Korea’s largest wireless carrier by revenue. It retails at about 580,000 Korean won ($630) before handset subsidies, Motorola said.

The world’s second-largest handset maker by sales, unveiled the new cell phone last month in a bid to resurrect its ailing handset business. The new phone has a slimmer frame, larger screen and improved call quality compared with its predecessor.