Motorola today revealed a new Blackberry look-alike Android phone for T-Mobile called ‘Charm’.
The Charm is a new Android 2.1-powered smartphone that will appeal to low to mid range Blackberry users. The device has a 2.8-inch (320×480?) touchscreen display, 3 megapixel camera, and all of the Wifi and Bluetooth pre-reqs that you could want in a mid-level smartphone.
It also has in-call noise cancellation, which is typically only found in high end Smartphones like the iPhone or Nexus One. If you look at the screenshots that Motorola provides, right, it appears that Motorola is going after the recently-killed Kin Social Media addict audience with this particular implementation of Motoblur ‘enhancements’.
Morotola (MOT) also mentions some sort of Adobe (ADBE) Flash compatibility, as well as a trackpad in the back, just like the lackluster AT&T (T) Backflip.
Speaking of AT&T, the smaller, inexpensive Charm will certainly compete with one of my favorite little Android devices, the HTC Aria.
This isn’t Motorola’s first attempt to build a Blackberry form-factor device. The Motorola Q, released in 2006 (woops, it is still available!) ran Windows Mobile but never really took off.
Motorola isn’t the only one hoping Android OS will woo more Blackberry converts. Samsung is also courting that market with upcoming Android devices.
For Crackberry addicts who absolutely must have a physical keyboard, love social networks, and like the other benefits that Android offers, this is a pretty tempting deal, so long as T-Mobile offers low cost data plans, like the ones AT&T has recently introduced. Motorola only says that the Charm will be available ‘this summer’.
Motorola Charm press release pasted below:
Motorola Announces its Newest Device with MOTOBLUR™: Motorola CHARM™
Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola CHARM packs smartphone features and social graces into a pocketable design with Android™ 2.1 and MOTOBLURTM enhancements
July 07, 2010
Libertyville, Ill. — July 7, 2010 —Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced the upcoming availability of Motorola CHARM™, a touch screen smartphone that packs a social networking punch with Android™ 2.1, MOTOBLURTM enhancements, a compact design and a BACKTRACK™ feature that makes screen navigation even more intuitive.
Motorola CHARM is expected to be available this summer exclusively in the U.S. for customers of T-Mobile USA, Inc.
“Motorola strives to provide an increased customizable user experience, which is enabled by our latest enhancements to MOTOBLUR and featured on the new Motorola CHARM,” said Jean Pierre Le Cannellier, vice president, Americas Marketing, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Combine that with a compact design, easy handling and all the features you would expect from a smartphone, and we believe that CHARM with MOTOBLUR adds the social ability and workability consumers are looking for.”
Motorola CHARM provides consumers all the features of a smartphone with the intuitive navigation of a 2.8 inch touch screen – all in a compact, pocketable design that makes messaging a snap using the combination of a full QWERTY keyboard and touch screen. The BACKTRACK navigation pad, located on the back of the smartphone directly behind the home screen, is similar to a laptop touch panel and enables an unobstructed view of the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds. Plus, with Android 2.1 and enhanced MOTOBLUR features, CHARM offers new customization and filtering options.
“Being social with friends and family comes naturally for T-Mobile customers, and we think mobilizing their social experiences should be effortless,” said Saj Sahay, director of product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the new Motorola CHARM and enhancements to the Android and MOTOBLUR experience, we’re bringing more social skills to our broad portfolio of Android-powered smartphones.”
Motorola CHARM will be the first device in the U.S. to feature an enhanced version of MOTOBLUR built on Android 2.1, which syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more in easy to manage streams — from sources such as Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter™, Gmail™, work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR now allows for even greater customization, providing users more options to follow who and what really matters.
MOTOBLUR filters can be selected from a single social networking account, contacts, group or messaging account so that users can select only the information they want to stream live to the Happenings and Messages widgets. Users can move and resize pre-loaded home screen widgets to personalize up to seven home screen panels for an even more custom experience. Lastly, consumers can manage their phone’s battery consumption by selecting different power modes to conserve battery.
Contacts in MOTOBLUR are automatically synced to the phone from personal and work e-mail and social network accounts. MOTOBLUR will continue to provide convenience and peace of mind, as lost devices can be located from a secure personal information portal and even remotely erased if necessary. In addition, one user name and password brings back contacts, messages and connectivity to previously configured networks and e-mail providers.
Last, but not least, Moto Phone Portal enables you to access and manage your phone’s data from any browser through a USB or Wi-Fi connection. Edit content and view important phone information while at home or on-the-go. Leave pictures on a friend’s PC, share a video at the local Internet café or share a presentation during an important business meeting.
Additional features on Motorola CHARM include:
- Adobe® Flash® enabled Web browsing experience to view most of today’s content-rich sites Full suite of Google™ services including: Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and access to thousands of apps on Android Market™
- Pinch to zoom functionality and two-finger swipe to easily surf the Web and sort through photos
- Capture sharp photos with a 3MP camera and KODAK PERFECT TOUCH technology for better, brighter pictures
- One-touch social media uploads to Facebook®, MySpace, PicasaTM and PhotoBucket®
- CrystalTalkTM PLUS for enhanced audio and call quality with a second microphone for increased voice quality while filtering out background noise
- Corporate email pushed immediately to the device for instant inbox updates
Availability
Motorola CHARM with MOTOBLUR is expected to be available exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers this summer. For more information on Motorola CHARM with MOTOBLUR, please visit here. To view images please visit here.Motorola Announces its Newest Device with MOTOBLUR™: Motorola CHARM™
Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola CHARM packs smartphone features and social graces into a pocketable design with Android™ 2.1 and MOTOBLURTM enhancements
