Rumor: Motorola readying first Android phone

Motorola's first Android phone could look something like this.

(Credit: Boy Genius Report)

Motorola might be getting ready to pick itself up off the canvas and rejoin the smartphone fight.

The Boy Genius Report got its hands on some information and photos of Motorola's supposed first Android phone, code-named Calgary. If the information is correct, it's a slider phone with a QWERTY keyboard that will appear on Verizon's network at some point later this year.

Motorola has been essentially sitting out the last year or so of the smartphone market as the company tries to figure out whether or not it actually wants to be in that business. But the company was an early backer of Google's Android project, and has been rumored for some time to be working on Android-powered handsets.

[UKStory1355]

I wonder if they will Verizonize Android to make it as crappy as all of their other phones. I bet that they will only allow apps and music to be bought through their ugly, user-hating, V-Cast stores.

[NervClaX]

Agreed. Verizon would likely strangle whatever benefits you'd get from using Android by tying the apps and services to their network. An open source OS on a Verizon phone is an oxymoron.

Also, the slider keypad in that mockup is so impractical its funny.

[ricks123]

It's been slow, but it looks like android is finally making it onto the scene. Any competition is good. I'll be nice once these carriers open up their networks a bit. Verizon seems to be the worse. It strips everything off the phone so you have to buy their service.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Sidekick 2 rip-off.

[CaptainMooseInc]

Motorola really needs to start working on AT&T/T-Mobile phones again. Some of their latest phones have all been CDMA and not GSM. Including the one I really want. I've been a Motorola loyalist for 4 years now. Ignoring AT&T by stocking garbage phones no one wants is just annoying. I'm still enjoy my ROKR Z6, but this summer I think I'll have to move to Apple's iPhone.

[FearNo1]

Moto moves too slow. HTC, LG, etc seem to release new phones every other month. The cell phone industry is similar to the automotive industry. There are too many companies out now and something's gotta give. Moto is like the big three. They are too big to quickly adjust and adapt to the market. I don't see them being a major player again.

[checodaman]

Technically this should be, "Oh hai".

[lo266]

Can CNET please run an article relating to Android's inability to save apps to an SD card? Lack of internal storage on the G1 is a major issue that has hampered app sales and prevented developers from bringing feature rich products to the Market.

Google has neglected its users in this regard. Please don't do the same by not pointing this out. Thanks.