AT&T Locks Down the Motorola Backflip
AT&T Face Plant
AT&T’s jump into the Android market doesn’t appear to be very friendly to Google. Last week, AT&T was announced that they were replacing the market-leading, Google search on the Google Android-powered Motorola Backflip with Yahoo’s search. Today we’re finding out they’ve locked down the Backflip.
AT&T, of course, spins this as being customer friendly:
“We like the Android as an operating system on its own, but we want to make sure that we have, and customers have the option, to put applications on that device that are not just Google applications. And we want to give customers the choice of other applications on that device, not just the same Google applications.” –Ralph de la Vega, CEO AT&T Wireless
Early adopters, reviewers and hackers have notice the option to install non-market applications isn’t just turned off it’s missing all together. Doesn’t this action contradict what Mr. de la Vega stated above? What happened to giving customers their “choice of other applications?” Want to tether? Forget about it. Want to join a beta program? Forget about it.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: Android, Android 1.5, ATT, Google, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Blur
AT&T’s First Android Phone The Motorola Backflip Now Available
Now Available on AT&T
Here are some specs:
- 3.1-inch HVGA 320 x 480 pixel touchscreen
- Mobile broadband
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- GPS
- microSD memory card slot
- 5-megapixel camera
- 3.5mm headset jack
- Motorola Blur software
Popularity: 2% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: Android, Android 1.5, ATT, Google, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Blur
Rumor: Motorola Backflip Landing on AT&T March 7
Our AT&T connect tells us to expect a March 7th release date for Motorola’s Backflip on AT&T, the phone carrier’s first Google Android OS-based smartphone.
The Android-run (version 1.5?), Backflip will possibly sell at $324, it’s not clear whether that’s before or after contract.
The phone gets its name from the unusual design, the phone features a reverse-flip keyboard, hence the Backflip. Along with the flip style keyboard, here are some of the specs:
- 3.1-inch HVGA touchpanel screen
- Mobile broadband
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- GPS
- microSD memory card slot
- 5-megapixel camera
- 3.5mm headset jack
- Motorola Blur software
You’d think after CES we would see more concrete details.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Categories: Rumor Tags: Android, Android 1.5, ATT, Google, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Blur
Rumor: Motorola Release Two Android Devices Headed to Different Carriers
Two smartphones created by Motorola and running Google’s Android OS could be in the offering for early January, with one headed for AT&T and the other for Verizon Wireless.
Trip Chowdhry from Global Equities Research, citing unnamed sources, says that the AT&T model will have an OLED display and a hardware keyboard. It will supposedly employ the standard Google user interface, not Motorola’s alternate UI, called Blur.
The Verizon model, according to Chowdhry, will also have an OLED display, but lack a hardware keyboard.
If this analyst is correct, these will be Motorola’s first Android-powered smartphones with OLED screens.
What Earlier Rumors Say
There have been quite a number of unconfirmed reports about upcoming Motorola models with the Android OS. According to one of these, AT&T is prepping the Motorola Backflip. However, this report differs from Chowdhry’s in several areas: this model isn’t supposed to have an OLED screen, and it’s expected to run MotoBlur.
Earlier reports have indicated that Verizon Wireless will soon be offering the Motorola Devour, but this smartphone doesn’t fit Chowdhry’s description either, as it will have a sliding hardware keyboard and no OLED display.
On the other hand, there have been numerous unconfirmed reports that a tablet version of the Motorola Droid is in development, and could debut as early as January. This model could be headed for Verizon, though the only wireless carrier mentioned before was T-Mobile USA.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Categories: Rumor Tags: ATT, Google Android Operating System, MotoBlur, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Devour, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless
