Despite the buzz around Google’s Nexus One smartphone, other Android device makers are working to rise above the noise at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show. Motorola’s latest Android smartphone is the Backflip, but analysts aren’t too sure the market will do cartwheels over the device, especially in the wake of Google’s big announcement.
The Backflip promises social savviness and multitasking capabilities with a unique reverse flip design that aims to make it easier for consumers to watch videos, look at pictures, and listen to music. The device offers a QWERTY keyboard and a high-resolution 3.1-inch screen.
“Since introducing our first MOTOBLUR-based device, we’ve remained focused on differentiating the Android experience and bringing it to new carrier partners around the globe,” said Sanjay Jha, co-CEO of Motorola and CEO of Motorola Mobile Devices. “Backflip maximizes the multitasking and multifunctional potential of MOTOBLUR with its unique design elements, making it as smart as it is social.”
Motorola’s Reverse Design
The phone is called the Backflip because it reverses the traditional design by flipping in the opposite direction. When the device is in reverse-flip, tabletop mode, users can listen to music or watch videos hands-free. And a trademarked feature called Backtrack, a touch panel located on the other side of the device, lets users scroll through the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds without obscuring the home-page view.
Backflip offers a full HTML browser with a touch display, 3G speed, and Wi-Fi access. The device boasts a five-megapixel camera with flash and the ability to upload photos to social-networking sites. Users can also tap into the Android Market and its more than 18,000 apps and widgets that allow smartphone customization.
The Backflip will be available in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia in the first quarter. But will it and other yet-to-be-announced Android smartphones be overshadowed by the…
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