Motorola Goes Google With Android-Based Cliq
The Motorola Cliq is the Schaumberg, Ill.-based device maker's first foray into Google Android, the open source mobile operating system that Motorola said earlier this year it would embrace wholeheartedly to boost sluggish device sales and improve revenue.
Along with being Motorola's first Google Android handheld, the Cliq is also the first device to come with MotoBlur, a custom interface that aggregates social networking information and communications tools like email messages, text messages, Facebook information, Twitter feeds and pictures into a single interface. MotoBlur also backs up users' information to Blur servers, meaning if a user loses their Motorola Cliq contact information, log-in information, customized home screens, emails and more can be located.
The 3G Motorola Cliq, which will be available via T-Mobile later this fall, ties in a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.1-inch touch-screen, Wi-Fi, a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and video capture for 24 frames per second playback, a 3.5 mm headset jack, a music player pre-loaded with the Amazon MP3 store, and 2 GB of memory, expandable to up to 32 GB.
The Cliq also adds one-touch access to a host of Google mobile services via Google Android, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, YouTube and Picassa. It also offers access to personal and corporate email, calendars and contacts via Exchange Server and Gmail, along with Yahoo, Windows Live Hotmail and other POP3 and IMAP services. For instant messaging, Motorola Cliq with Google Android supports Google Talk, AOL, Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.
Neither Motorola nor T-Mobile have divulged the price of the Motorola Cliq.