Details Starting to Trickle Out on Motorola's First Android Smartphone

A basic description of Motorola's first smartphone running Google's Android operating system has leaked out.

This device will have a touchscreen and sliding QWERTY keyboard, according to BusinessWeek.com.

If this description is accurate, then Motorola's first Android smartphone will have a great deal in common with the T-Mobile G1, an Android-based phone which will also have those features.

Still, a significant difference between these two is already known: the G1 is coming out later this week, while Motorola's model won't be out until the second quarter of next year.

Also, people who seen both devices say Motorola's is going to look like a higher-end product. That doesn't mean it's going to sell for a high-price, though. It will supposedly cost $150 with a two-year contract

An Emphasis on Social Networking

Android has been created to power consumer-friendly smartphones. Motorola is reportedly taking this a step further and is going to include one of consumers' favorite pastimes, social networking.

Exactly what this is going mean isn't clear. The phone is almost certain to offer Google's instant messaging client, but it could also have software to allow users to more easily use sites like MySpace on a smartphone.

Related Articles:

• T-Mobile G1 Preview
• T-Mobile Has Already Sold 1.5 Million Android-Powered Smartphones
• Out of the Gate, Android a Long Way from Enterprise Ready

Via BusinessWeek, and thanks to questionfear for the tip.