CLIQ: Moto’s last stand?
This new smartphone could be the beginning of the end for Motorola. Or, it might herald the dawn of a corporate rebirth.
The proud, former number one cell phone manufacturer on the planet once put a flip phone in every pocket. Who didn’t own – or want to own a StarTAC?
Then Moto failed to provide loyal users with something better. Now they’re desperately trying to make a comeback.
They’ve joined forces with Google to develop an entire line of Android-based handsets. The T-Mobile/Motorola CLIQ is the first such product to hit the marketplace.
Officially, CLIQ is the fourth Android phone to make it to the U.S. market. It’s also the third Android phone design to be sold by T-Mobile.
CLIQ has a side-slider QWERTY keyboard and shares the same Qualcomm processor (528 MHz) that nearly every other announced/real Android phones has inside. There’s only 256MB of built-in storage but thankfully, there is also a microSD card slot for the standard 2GB card (up to 32GB cards are accepted).
CLIQ is a true world phone. It will work on 3G network both here in the U.S. and overseas. It runs on the latest Android OS, version 1.5, nicknamed “Cupcake”.
Other features include a 3.1-inch (diagonal), 320 by 480 pixels, capacitive screen, a 5.0 megapixel camera, a 1,420mAh rechargeable battery pack (said to be good for up to six hours of continuous usage and 325 hours of standby), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 (stereo), GPS and a real, honest-to-goodness 3.5mm headphone jack.
The CLIQ measures 2.28 by 4.5 by 0.62 inches and weighs more than any of the Android phones to date: 5.75 ounces. It will be sold in two colors: Titanium (dark gray) or Winter White.
The CLIQ is the first device to feature Motorola’s new interface and data back-up service which has been graced with an unfortunate name: MOTOBLUR:
“Now everything is where you want it – in one place, on tap. Your friends, pics, emails, messages and Facebook, My Space and Twitter happenings. Motorola CLIQ is the first phone to come with MOTOBLUR, the only service that can sync them all, with continuous updates and backups. There are no logins or apps to open, and your data’s always safe. Talk about socialized.”
What this actually translates to is that your texts, emails and social network messages will arrive together on MOTOBLUR’s new front-screen Messages and Happenings widgets – along with photos of your friends. You can control your MOTOBLUR accounts via the Web on your computer screen.
I have to admit; I wasn’t impressed with Moto’s description of MOTOBLUR but WAS very impressed by the actual service. Once set-up my Facebook, Twitter and e-mail accounts I was stunned. Motorola seems to have come up with the perfect way to keep up-to-date with all your online data services.
Now I see that MOTOBLUR seems to be a clever way to keep track of all your social networking feeds in one easy to access place (your home screen) all at the same time. If you’re addicted to these services you’re going to flip when you see everything constantly updating at the same time and begging for your attention.
You have to experience it for yourself – for more than a brief 20 second test – to begin understanding just how cool this really is. Motorola may have created the perfect modern-day, wireless data delivery system.
Kudos too for the slide-out keyboard. The keys are actually spaced correctly for rapid typing and they feel nearly perfect when you press them.
CLIQ pre-sales are set to begin online starting October 19th. It should be available in T-Mobile stores beginning November 2nd.
T-Mobile has priced the CLIQ at $199.99 with the industry-standard two-year service agreement. Data contract prices are the same as for other T-Mobile Android phones.
This device is way too clever to try to sum up in one story. I plan to live with the CLIQ for a few weeks and let you know if and how it might change my life.