Motorola working on social networking handset powered by Android?

**vbreal** · 10-14-2008, 02:31 PM

Motorola working on social networking handset powered by Android?

Posted by Simon on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 at 10:25 am under Android, Motorola, Rumors

Awhile back it became clear that with plans to bump their Android team up to 350 people, Motorola was serious about working with Google’s mobile OS. Well, a fresh job description shows that this team will be working on a “new Android Social Networking SmartPhone”, giving us a little more insight as to what Moto’s up to. It sounds like a cool idea to base a handset on - after all, social networking tends to be a third-party afterthought rather than the core of new products. Sharing text, voice, pictures, video and even location are all becoming bigger parts of the mobile lifestyle, and if Moto can tap into that demand with a properly focused smartphone, they might find a foothold to stall their ongoing losses and hold the number one manufacturer spot in the U.S.

**hawtseks** · 10-14-2008, 02:48 PM

Could this possibly be the sprint android phone that was rumored to be released by xmas?

**androidmaddy** · 10-14-2008, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by hawtseks

Could this possibly be the sprint android phone that was rumored to be released by xmas?

It seems that they just recently put their Andriod team together. I'd be surprised if they're ready with a handset by Christmas this year. Maybe by 2Q next year.

**hawtseks** · 10-14-2008, 04:11 PM

yeah, you're probably right.

**vbreal** · 10-15-2008, 12:50 PM

i am curious on what the time line is for this phone.

**hawtseks** · 10-15-2008, 03:04 PM

"Motorola, a capable, albeit much maligned phone maker, designing a device that marries the speedy Web services of Android with the undeniable stickiness of social networking. Why, that would be the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of smart phones!"

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-...-Smart-Phones/

I'm not someone who partakes in myspace or facebook but i think everyone knows someone who is on those sites. I know quite a few myself. This is a very interesting concept. I'd bet that phone will be a 'G1 killer' for the young people, for sure.

**Low-Light** · 10-15-2008, 05:19 PM

Bastards. I bet they are making the phone I designed for them.

I participated in this Entrepreneurial Quest in Chicago of '07. It was sponsored by Motorola and IIT. Motorola had us try to design a new mobile phone for them. Mind you this was just a month after the iPhone was announced, however I learned about it much later. Anywho the phone I came up with was similar to the iPhone and was all about Social networking- I had a catchy name for it. but I forgot.

The phone that won the competition was a mobile phone for elderly folks and it had a special emergency/panic button behind it. (The guys that won were hung over too) grr.

I have some vids with me pitching the product and a lil infomercial.

Pitch: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNSTwY_3Fq4[/ame]
I had like 3mins to prepare an impromptu pitch with my team in front of like 5 judges.

Commercial: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHI_pkWsWkQ[/ame]
We had like 10-15mins to make a prototype and film a commercial. Lots of people made fun cause we did not scale the phone down to actual size... (I mean come on 15mins!!!)

Enjoy!