Moto Calgary using Android

Motorola's upcoming Calgary touchscreen phone will be the first phone from the company to use Google's Android interface, a historically reliable source says. The BGR tipster provides few details of what the phone would involve but appears to sync with Motorola's own statements that it plans to focus on social networking, as the Calgary will have a slide-out QWERTY keyboard in addition to its full touch input. The handset is expected to show on Verizon, but it's unknown if it would be ready in spring as rumored or else pushed back to later in the year.

In exchange for having the flagship device, however, Motorola is now thought to be scrapping two phones that had also been planned for the year. The Flash, an iPhone-like device that would have been based on Windows Mobile, as well as the Inferno, a spiritual sequel to the Krave, have both reportedly been scrapped as the company chooses to focus only on the phones it expects will be profitable. Motorola has publicly stated that it intends to focus on Android for smart devices in 2009 as it believes Windows Mobile isn't viable until 2010.

Additionally, early details have surfaced of the Rolex, a second luxury phone in the vein of the Aura. It would have the same circular LCD but would be made of hardened glass instead of the stainless steel for the current phone. It's not certain whether it would have the limited run of the Aura or else would last longer, giving Motorola a permanent alternative to Nokia's Vertu line.

By Electronista Staff