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Motorola To Show Off Android Phones

By now you're probably aware that Motorola will be introducing some Android handsets in early September. Moto has a lot riding on these devices, so let's take a look at what they could be showing off.

I can't stress enough how important these handset are for Moto, as their handset division has been deep in the red lately. CEO Sanjay Jha has placed a big bet on Android, and Moto employees have told me it has somewhat energized the company because it allows them to focus on making one great platform instead of juggling too many balls.

They've already reached out to developers to try and differentiate from the other Android devices out there, and hopefully this will lead to cool devices that garner public interest. The spies and leakers have been out in force for these smartphones, so let's take a look at what they may introduce.

Motorola Morrison

First up, is a handset that will reportedly be called the Morrison. This messaging-centric device will likely be brought to T-Mobile, and Android And Me said the touch-screen device will pack a Qualcomm 528 MHz processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD slot, GPS, 3G, a 5-megapixel that can record video, 320 by 480 screen, accelerometer, and support for multiple e-mail protocols including POP3, IMAP4, and Exchange ActiveSync.

The handset is supposed to be budget-friendly, which means it could come out for less than $100. The specs are pretty decent for a mid-level smartphone, and Moto will also likely load it up with some custom apps that have deep integration with social networks.

You can only tell so much from supposedly leaked photos, but I hope they'll offer different colors because the blue makes it look a bit childish (I'm probably not the prime demographic for this one though). Also, I really, really want an Android device that has a stronger processor, as it’s the same CPU that's found in the nearly year-old T-Mobile G1.

(Photo Credit)

Motorola Sholes

Now, that's what I'm talking about. As a Verizon subscriber, I'm very excited about the Motorola "Sholes" because it will likely put Android on some serious hardware. This touch-screen smartphone is rumored to be powered by the TI OMAP 3430 chip, which is also found in high-end devices like the Palm Pre and the Samsung Omnia HD. I've spent plenty of time with Android, and think its notification system and multitasking could be the best in the business with some more horsepower, and the Sholes should be giving it that.

Other rumored specs include a 3.7-inch capacitive touch screen, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, microSD slot, and multiple audio and video capabilities. Speculation says this will come out in November, right in time for the holiday shopping season. I think if Verizon can get the Sholes out for $199 (and not cripple it), this could be a very good iPhone alternative. I know I'm already considering it, and I haven't even seen it in real life.

Keep in mind, all the pictures and specs are rumors for now, but they give a good indication of what we can look forward to. Motorola has always known how to make good phone hardware (they essentially invented cell phones), but their software has always left a lot to be desired. Android is a major step toward solving that problem, as it's getting better every day, and future updates will let it give iPhone OS or webOS a good challenge. The speculation should be over Sept. 9, and I'm hoping to get some hands-on time with the devices. Watch InformationWeek for more Android coverage, and watch this blog for my take on the MotoDroids.

Are the MotoDroids enough to save Motorola? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment, dropping me a line at mperez@techweb.com, or tweet me @marinperez.

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