Motorola focus on Android

We have already heard of different reports of Motorola expanding their development team or to work on an Android social networking handset but it appears that Android will take an even bigger part in Motorola's next year's linup.

At their Q3's conference call, Motorolo Co-CEO Sanjay Jha spoke of their plans to focus solely on three operating systems: Android, Windows Mobile and their own P2K platform for low-costs handsets. This will reduce OS development costs and Motorola will focus on handsets to offer high ends smartphones.

As far as Android is concerned, Motorola plan to release several handsets, going from medium end to high end ranges at different prices. The first Android phone should land at Christmas 2009. This is later than we expected, with the original date announced for second quarter of 2009.

Will Motorola get back to the top thanks to Android? They seem to believe so.

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New Android enthusiasts

Every week or so, new companies declare their flame to Android. And now OpenMoko and Asus are joining in, both of them announcing their plans to bring out Android powered phones.

OpenMoko, a phone manufacturer company that believes in Open Source, have even released a code name GTA02 and specs for their Android phone. The phone will sport a 2.8 touch screen, with two hard buttons with acceloremeter, bluetooth and Wifi. It should look very similar to their previous product, the Neo Freerunner.

If you are still not sure of what OpenMoko do, have a look at their official website. They design completely customizable phones, both on hardware and software level.

It seems pretty natural that they come to Android. Some rumours are already talking of a November release.

Asus, known for developping smartphones on Windows Mobile, have also announced plans to release an Android phone, this as early as in the first half of 2009. Nothing much has been leaked yet but we can bet on some features like touchscreen, card storage or keyboard. We'll keep a eye on that.

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• OpenMoko Jumps On Android Bandwagon
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Touch me!

Let's get a bit serious with some stats! Mobile Tech news has an interesting article on touchscreen mobiles and their increasing success.

According to a recent market research from Strategy Analytics , touchscreen mobiles' sales will reach 90 million units worldwide.

This is not really a surprise as 2009 seems to be the year for touchscreen mobiles.
Apple will build up on the iPhone success story, the new Windows Mobile 7, due to be out in 2009, will also be dedicated to exclusive finger usage and of course there is the arrival of Google's Android which was also designed for such mobiles.

Besides that, big brand names like Nokia (check the Tube) or RIM (check the Blackberry Thunder) have also announced their first touchscreens devices.

Competition is sure to be fierce and we can only hope that it will benefit everybody with plenty of cool phones and apps!

Related articles

• Microsoft will maintain licensing fees for Windows Mobile
• Ballmer on mobile: Apple will lose and we will win because 'we're separatists'
• Nokia to unveil touch-screen phone

Meanwhile, after the first phone's leaked pictures before the the official presentation, the leaked user manual, TmoNews have first leaked pictures of the T-Mobile G1 unboxing. No doubts, it is coming home real soon now!