Android OS-based Motorola Charm Officially Headed for T-Mobile

Motorola has just taken the wraps off its next consumer-oriented Android OS smartphone, the Motorola Charm. This upcoming model will have a small touchscreen, a hardware keyboard, and a focus on social networking. It is headed for T-Mobile USA.

The Charm will have a tablet shape with a small keyboard fixed below its 2.8-inch 320x240 (QVGA) touchscreen. Instead of a small D-pad or optical trackpad below its screen, it will include a Backtrack -- a relatively large trackpad on its back.

It is going to run Google's Android OS 2.1 and include a new version of MotoBlur, Motorola's software that syncs contacts, posts, messages, and photos from sources such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, as well as Gmail and other personal and corporate e-mail systems.

Android OS 2.1 will bring collection of bundled software, including a web browser and music and video player.

Additional Tech Specs
The Motorola Charm is going to have a 3 megapixel camera with support for recording images and video.

Naturally, it will support T-Mobile's GSM voice network, and it will also offer HSPA 3G at 3.6 Mbps, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR.

The Motorola Charm is going to come with a 2 GB microSD memory card, and users will have the option to swap this out with cards up to 32 GB in capacity.

According to an unconfirmed report, this smartphone will be built around a 600 MHz processor and include 512 MB of RAM and 512 MB of ROM.

It will have a GPS receiver, 1170 mAh Li-Ion battery, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

Overall, the Charm is going to be 3.9 in. x 2.6 in. x 4.45 in. (67 x 98 x 11 mm) and 3.9 ounces (110 grams).

Availability
Motorola says that the Charm will be released exclusively by T-Mobile USA by the end of this summer, but didn't specify exactly when. A price for this model also was not announced today.

A unconfirmed report says the debut will be July 21, and the Charm will sell for $75 with a 2-year contract and mail-in rebate or for $270 without a contract.