Last January 6, Motorola made a surprise announcement during the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It is the launching of their most unusual smart phone ever, the Motorola BACKFLIP. Powered by Google Android, this phone can actually flip backwards, so that both the screen and keyboard are facing out. It has to be the most unique phone in the market today, and will definitely appeal to people who like having one-of-a-kind gadgets.
Just Like a CLIQ
Upon closer inspection, it appears that this phone is pretty much the same as the popular Motorola CLIQ. It has very similar specifications, such as the Qualcomm 528 MHz MSM 7200A processor, the 5 megapixel camera, the 320 x 480 screen display, the Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, and even the Google Android 1.5 operating system that comes with the MotoBLUR, which is a social networking add-on. You should know though that Motorola promises to upgrade both phones to Android 2.1 eventually.
The keyboard is also very similar to what the CLIQ has, only bigger. It’s also a bit more domed compared to the unimpressive keyboard of the Motorola Droid. The three buttons that are found below the screen of the CLIQ has been replaced in this phone by touch buttons that light up when pressed lightly.
Not Like Any Other Phone
However, when you talk about the physical design, then this phone stands on a league of its own. When it is closed, both the screen and the keyboard face out. You can then flip it flat in a V-shape so that it can stand on a table and you can watch a video clip. When propped up this way, it can also work as an alarm clock or a digital photo frame. When it is fully open, you can actually use the trackpad at the back of the phone so that you can navigate without having to touch the screen at all. The good thing about this phone is that even with it’s one of a kind design, it doesn’t feel awkward at all, unless you try to flip the phone the wrong way (like you would a traditional clamshell).
Concerns about the Phone
One thing that bothers some people about the Motorola BACKFLIP is that it has the same problem as the CLIQ, in that the many windows of MotoBLUR look too crowded on a regular 320 x 480 screen. However, the screen resolution is pretty impressive though – everything looks bright and sharp, so that should be one less thing to worry about.
Another concern is that the 528 MHz processor may not be able to compete with the latest Android phones in the market today, such as the Motorola Droid, which has faster, more advanced processors.
This mobile phone supports HSPA 7.2 network and works on 3G band. It features 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0. Its internal memory is expandable through the use of microSD cards.
According to Motorola, this phone will be available in the first quarter of 2010, but no price has been announced yet.