Motorola Cliq Getting a System Software Update this Week

Motorola has promised to release an update for the system software on the Motorola Cliq, an Android-based smartphone being offered by T-Mobile USA. This will bring a number improvements, but apparently won't be the promised upgrade to Android OS 2.1.

This company said via Twitter:

CLIQ users: an update is coming this week w/ enhancements for battery life, touchscreen, and GPS. We'll alert you when you can download it.

More Details Leak Out
Although Motorola has released no other details on this software update, an unconfirmed report gives some additional information.

This week's Cliq update will supposedly offer improved software performance and stability, including improved widget response, and fewer ‘force close' error messages.

It will add support for playing audio in WMA and WAV formats, but remove the imeem app.

Not Yet Android OS 2.1
The Motorola Cliq runs Android OS 1.5, which is several versions behind the current release. Last month, Motorola's CEO promised that an upgrade to Android OS 2.1 will be released at some point, though he declined to get more specific about timing.

Nothing that has come out so far on this week's firmware update indicates that it will take this smartphone to a newer version of Google's operating system.

An Overview of the Motorola Cliq
The Cliq is a "slider", with a 3.1-inch HVGA capacitive Touchscreen and a sliding landscape-oriented QWERTY keyboard.

It runs Google's Android OS, and comes with a suite of entertainment and productivity software, much of which ties in to Google's free services. It also has MotoBlur, MotoBlur, Motorola's software that brings together messages from a range of social-networking services like Facebook and Twitter, text messages, as well as consumer and business e-mail accounts, into a universal inbox. This smartphone also offers access to thousands of third-party software titles through the Android Market.

The Cliq is able to access T-Mobile's 3G network, plus it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It is bundled with a 2 GB microSD memory card, and has support for up to 32 GB cards.

In addition, this smartphone has a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture and playback at 24 frames per second, and a 3.5 mm headset jack. It also sports a GPS receiver and a digital compass.

T-Mobile announced plans to offer the Motorola Cliq XT this week. This will be a "sister" model, not a replacement, as the XT will have the same general specifications without a physical keyboard.

Source: Motorola and TmoNews