Motorola unveils
Android-powered smartphone, the Cliq.(Technology)
WASHINGTON,
September 10, 2009 (AFP) - Motorola on Thursday unveiled its first smartphone
powered by Google's Android software, a device called the "Cliq" that
the US handset maker hopes will help turn around its flagging fortunes.Motorola
co-chief executive Sanjay Jha introduced the touch-screen phone, which is to be
available through T-Mobile, the US wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG,
at the GigaOm Mobilize09 event in San Francisco.Described as "the first
phone with social skills," the Cliq is heavily geared toward social
networking with features built around sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and
Twitter.For example, Jha said, caller ID on the phone will display the name of
the incoming caller along with their profile picture and latest status
update.Updates from social networks or email can also be streamed and viewed on
the phone's home screen.The Cliq features a slide-out keyboard, a music player,
a five megapixel camera with video capture and the full complement of Google
mobile services such as Google calendar, Google maps, and built-in GPS.Motorola
did not disclose a price for the device.Jha said the Cliq was one of two
smartphones Motorola expected to release by the end of the year running
Google's open-source Android operating system."Android gives us a platform
to innovate and enhance user experiences," he said.The other Android-based
device would be unveiled "in the coming weeks," Jha said, and both would
hit store shelves in time for the holiday season."We expect (the Cliq) to
be one of our hottest-selling devices in the fourth quarter," said
T-Mobile chief technology officer Cole Brodman, who appeared on stage with
Jha.Google and T-Mobile released the first so-called "Google Phone,"
the T-Mobile G1, which is manufactured by Taiwan's HTC Corp., in October of
last year.US wireless carrier Sprint Nextel and HTC announced plans last week
to release a touch-screen mobile phone in October, the HTC Hero, powered by
Android.Motorola enjoyed success with its popular Razr phone launched in
2005.But the Illinois-based company has been losing ground since to Apple's
popular iPhone and Research in Motion's Blackberry as well as other major cell
phone makers such as Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.Motorola shares gained
1.53 percent on Wall Street on Thursday to close at $7.97.
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