AT&T Finally Gets Android: Motorola BACKFLIP Coming March 7

Are you ready for this, AT&T users? And by "this," we mean "the carrier's first-ever Android phone." As Mobile World Congress winds down in Spain, AT&T has just announced some sort of backup plan for when they will (possibly) lose exclusivity on Apple's iPhone. We're halfway kidding, but having a Google-based phone on the network certainly isn't a bad idea when you consider that Android has already permeated the other three major operators in America.


Beginning on March 7th, interested users will be able to buy a Motorola BACKFLIP, which is Android-based and ready to get social. Much like the CLIQ that was sold on T-Mobile, this phone will also come with MOTORBLUR, which is Motorola's own hand-crafted Android overlay (similar to HTC's Sense). MOTOBLUR allows notifications from pretty much everywhere to be taken right to the home screen, and the BACKFLIP has a reverse flip design that reveals a full-on QWERTY keyboard for those who love to text.

There's also GPS built-in, support for 3G, a 3.1" high-res, touch panel, a full HTML browser, access to over 20000 apps in the Android Market, Wi-Fi connectivity and a $99.99 (on a 2-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate) price. We're pretty excited to see Android finally get on AT&T, and we're hoping this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between the two.

MOTOBLUR™
MOTOBLUR keeps track of contacts so it’s easy to keep up. Users can flip through messages and updates on the BACKFLIP and respond in a flash, without having to log in and out of applications. MOTOBLUR helps consumers keep a pulse on what’s happening on their social and news networks. Only MOTOBLUR can sync Facebook, MySpace and Twitter with phone book and email contacts, while threading status updates and profile pics through calls, messages and address book. From the home screen, consumers can update their status to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter at once.

Finally, MOTOBLUR provides users with simplicity and peace of mind, as lost devices can be located from a secure personal information portal and GPS can be used to locate them. One user name and password brings back a user’s contacts, messages and connectivity to previously configured networks and email providers.

”Motorola is proud to bring the first Android-powered device to AT&T’s 3G network,” said Mark Shockley, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices. “AT&T customers will love the social media advantages MOTOBLUR offers as well as the innovative hardware design.”

BACKFLIP is the first Motorola device to feature the new and unique BACKTRACK™ feature which gives AT&T customers the ability to navigate quickly and easily through Web sites, menus and more with a touch panel located behind the screen when the device is folded open. BACKTRACK offers a new way to scroll through the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds without obscuring the home screen. Flip the keyboard backwards into table-top mode to listen to music, watch videos, view pictures with the digital picture frame or to turn BACKFLIP into a digital, bedside alarm clock.

BACKFLIP comes with a full HTML browser that can be viewed on the 3.1” high-res, touch screen display and makes use of 7.2 HSPA 3G technology on the nation’s fastest 3G network. Android Market™ has access to more than 20,000 apps and widgets, in order to customize the device to fit each consumer’s personal style. Customers can easily shoot photos and video with the BACKFLIP’s 5 MP camera and flash, and upload them to their favorite photo sharing or social media site.

The Motorola BACKFLIP features Wi-Fi connectivity and AT&T customers receive AT&T Wi-Fi access at U.S. hotspots included as part of their unlimited data plan. AT&T’s has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots.