Motorola’s social networking phone coming sometime next year
Motorola is indeed planning to offer a phone that uses the Google’s Android operating system and closely integrates with social networks, BusinessWeek has confirmed. News of the device leaked out last week, when bloggers discovered a Motorola job board posting looking for a senior user interface designer who could help with a “new Android Social Networking SmartPhone.”
The phone will include a touch screen similar to the iPhone and a slid- out QWERTY keyboard like the G1 Android phone’s, according to BusinessWeek. I’m not totally clear on what its social networking features will be, though — the article suggests that one might be a way to message your friends in a social network from your phone, using your phone’s address book.
More generally, this is a comeback move of sorts for Motorola — the company hasn’t come out with a hit device lately and its stock has been hurting as a result. The article cites sources who say the phone has a nicer look and feel than rival HTC’s G1.
Motorola is expected to subsidize its new device, and is putting $50 million towards its development. It has assigned the team from Good Technology, a wireless messaging company it purchased in 2006, to spearhead the project.
The phone is due out in the United States in the second quarter of next year; it’s not clear who the carrier will be.
Next Story: Compliance software maker Autonomic has a brand new bag, beta
Previous Story: Dreaded capital calls at venture funds may not be met
About the Author, Eric Eldon
Eric currently covers digital media technology and business news, especially what's happening on social networks and their platforms. He also writes and edits stories about venture capital, and lots of other stuff, too. He started at VentureBeat in the spring of 2007, half a year or so after Matt Marshall left his reporting job at the San Jose Mercury News to found the site. Eric previously cofounded a startup called Writewith, that was building editorial software for newspapers and other groups of writers. The startup didn't work out, but he learned a lot.
-
Pudjr
-
Valerie
-
edhardy622