Motorola announced its latest smartphone based on Google's Android platform, and said it would partner again with T-Mobile USA on the device, which will be called the Cliq XT in the United States when it launches next month. The phone will be called the Quench in other markets.
The announcement, made on the first day of the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, was intended to bolster Motorola's Android momentum. It is also one of several Android announcements from various vendors; Motorola rival Sony Ericsson announced new Android devices on Sunday.
Motorola made sure to note that the Cliq XT is its eighth global Android launch. The company is hoping to stage a comeback with Android, and has so far lined up support in the United States from Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile (AT&T Mobility has said it will offer Motorola Android phones later this year). Motorola shipped 12 million units in the fourth quarter, including 2 million smartphones, down from 19.2 million from the year-ago period. Handset sales were $1.8 billion, down 22 percent from $2.35 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Like its cousin the Cliq, which is also with T-Mobile, the Cliq XT runs Android 1.5 and has Motorola's MotoBLUR user interface, which focuses on social network aggregation. However, unlike the Cliq, the Cliq XT does not have a physical keyboard. The device has a 3.1-inch touchscreen display, WiFi, dual microphones and noise cancellation technology, a 5-megapixel camera and supports Adobe Flash Lite.
Motorola did not release pricing or specific release date information.
For more:
- see this release
- see this CNet article
Related Articles:
Motorola's sluggish quarter dampens comeback hopes
Analyst: Motorola Cliq sales slipping
Motorola shifts gears in China, Lenovo stands firm
Moto shows off newest Android phone: Backflip