Schaumburg (IL) - T-Mobile is about to start selling the Android-based G1, but according to BusinessWeek.com, the big news is that Motorola engineers are “hard at work on their own Android handset.” The report describes Motorola’s entry as having a touch screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and “a host of social-network-friendly features.”
According to industry insiders, Motorola has been presenting a spec sheet and images of the planned phone to carriers around the world over the past two months. And though T-Mobile’s G1 is soon to be released, Motorola is unlikely to have anything for debut until the second quarter of 2009.
It looks as if Motorola’s phone will make the most of the plethora of social networking media currently hot on the internet. Users will apparently have life made easy for them in their attempt to connect to social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. The phone should allow users to message friends within the online networks directly from the phones contact list, akin to an instant messaging tool like Digsby or Trillian which combine IM services.
"We're excited about the innovation possibilities on Android and look forward to delivering great products in partnership with Google,” Motorola said in a statement.
According to the design team, the Motorola device will include a touch-screen similar in size to that of Apple’s iPhone. However it apparently takes some design cues from Motorola’s own Krave ZN4 as well.
Those who have seen information about the phone described the device as higher-end G1, which should not be that difficult too achieve given the G1’s plain look. However the Motorola phone is expected to sell for less – about $150.
This move comes only weeks after Motorola beefed up its Android team by 300 to a total of 350 developers.
According to industry insiders, Motorola has been presenting a spec sheet and images of the planned phone to carriers around the world over the past two months. And though T-Mobile’s G1 is soon to be released, Motorola is unlikely to have anything for debut until the second quarter of 2009.
It looks as if Motorola’s phone will make the most of the plethora of social networking media currently hot on the internet. Users will apparently have life made easy for them in their attempt to connect to social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. The phone should allow users to message friends within the online networks directly from the phones contact list, akin to an instant messaging tool like Digsby or Trillian which combine IM services.
"We're excited about the innovation possibilities on Android and look forward to delivering great products in partnership with Google,” Motorola said in a statement.
According to the design team, the Motorola device will include a touch-screen similar in size to that of Apple’s iPhone. However it apparently takes some design cues from Motorola’s own Krave ZN4 as well.
Those who have seen information about the phone described the device as higher-end G1, which should not be that difficult too achieve given the G1’s plain look. However the Motorola phone is expected to sell for less – about $150.
This move comes only weeks after Motorola beefed up its Android team by 300 to a total of 350 developers.