Motorola CLIQ coming to T-Mobile next month for $200 on contract
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 29th 2009 3:18PM
posted Sep 29th 2009 3:18PM
T-Mobile Announces Upcoming Availability of Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR
CLIQ Registration Begins Today; Customer Pre-Sale Begins Oct. 19
BELLEVUE, Wash. -Sept. 29, 2009 - T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the Motorola CLIQ™, the first Android™-powered device from Motorola Inc. and the first device to feature the innovative MOTOBLUR™ solution, will be available for pre-sale for existing T-Mobile customers starting Oct. 19 at http://www.t-mobile.com/CLIQ.
Customers who order the CLIQ during the pre-sale period, Oct. 19–Nov. 1, will have an opportunity to be one of the first in the U.S. to experience T-Mobile's latest Android-powered phone, which automatically syncs and streams social messaging updates, text messages, and work and personal e-mail directly to the home screen. Devices ordered during pre-sale will be shipped to customers as orders are received and will include a complimentary car charger. The CLIQ will be available exclusively to eligible T-Mobile customers for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.*
Beginning today, customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com/CLIQ to register for CLIQ updates, learn more about the phone and check out a demo of MOTOBLUR. Those that register to receive CLIQ updates are entered into a grand prize sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip with five friends to one of four select destinations. In addition, those that register before Oct. 19 will also have the opportunity to instantly win a new CLIQ.
"T-Mobile customers text message and access social messaging on mobile devices more than those of any other carrier," said Wendy Piñero DePencier, vice president of brand marketing, T-Mobile USA. "That's why we're excited to give them the first opportunity to purchase the CLIQ, and then in early November offer the CLIQ prominently at T-Mobile stores nationwide in time for the holidays."
About Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR
CLIQ is Motorola's first Android device and the first to feature the innovative MOTOBLUR solution that manages and integrates communications - from work e-mail to social messaging activity - all to your home screen. Updates to contacts, posts, messages, photos and more are streamed together and synced from sources including Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace®, Gmail™, and work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR automatically delivers these updates to the home screen in easy-to-view streams so there is no need to open and close different mobile applications to keep up with the latest content.
In addition to the unique MOTOBLUR experience, the CLIQ features a premium design with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1-inch HVGA full touch-screen display. The phone delivers a powerful mobile Web experience by harnessing the strength and speed of T-Mobile's 3G network and Wi-Fi. Additional CLIQ features include a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture, a 3.5mm headset jack, a music player with pre-loaded Amazon MP3 store application, Shazam, iMeem Mobile, AccuWeather, MySpace Mobile, Quickoffice and a pre-installed 2GB microSD memory card with support for up to 32 GB of removable memory. TeleNav GPS Navigator is also preloaded on the device with a free two-week trial, including voice-activated turn-by-turn directions.
With integrated Google technology, CLIQ brings one-touch access to the popular Google™ mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search™ by voice, Google Maps™ with Street View, YouTube™ and Picasa™. CLIQ also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. E-mail is also supported by Yahoo!, Windows Live Hotmail, and other POP3 and IMAP e-mail service
T-Mobile's 3G network is currently available in 222 cities nationwide and covers more than 160 million people. By the end of 2009, T-Mobile USA expects its 3G network to be available to approximately 200 million people across the U.S.
Pricing and Availability
Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR will be available exclusively to T-Mobile customers in both Titanium and Winter White beginning Oct. 19 at http://www.T-Mobile.com/CLIQ or by calling customer care. CLIQ will be available in stores nationwide and online beginning Nov. 2 for $199.99 to eligible customers with a two-year agreement.* Customers can visit http://www.T-Mobile.com/CLIQ to learn more about CLIQ and MOTOBLUR and register for updates.
Wow, the G1 was only $180 when it came out, and it's pretty much on par with this phone.
I'm not sure if I'd say that, since this phone has some major plusses over the G1, but considering that the G1 came out a year ago, ya, $200 is way too much. Plus there's the fact that the iPhone 3GS, which has MUCH better hardware is the same price. T-Mo: you're crazy.
@Mark how do we know the hardware is much better? Does anyone know the specs to the CLIQ yet?
Yes, we know the specs of the CLIQ and htey are exactly the same as every other Android phone.
@kibbled_bits: Via the official developer page. As DR said, the chipset is the exact same, but it has more RAM, the whole array of sensors and some other bits I'm unable to recall now. It is superior, but just not superior ENOUGH to justify it costing so much.
It has a D-pad, some sensors, and a bit more RAM, Still doesn't explain why it's MORE than the G1 was a year ago. And besides, I'm sure the ROM will be leaked very soon, and I'm sure it will find it's way onto the G1, so I'll get to play around with MOTO's version of android...for free.
They should start discounting it now since nobody will be buying it. It's already been said that no user will be able to figure out how to use it since the interface is too complicated. Too bad. Motorola put a lot of man hours into it for it to be a failure before it's even sold one. Looks kinda nice, though. Motorola is just cursed with bad luck and worse management.
Well, you can't say the iPhone 3GS has better hardware when this has a keyboard and the iPhone doesn't. This hits a market segment that the iPhone isn't capable of. Subjective, I know, but nonetheless true.
I'm sad. Because of iPhone, Almost fresh and smart phone is opened by challenger like T-Mobile.
Processor and memoryProcessor Qualcomm MSM7201A
Processor Clock Speed 528 MHz
RAM 256 MB
Flash ROM 512 MB
User Storage Available (max) 256 MB
Memory Card Type FAT32
microSDHC, Class 6
Memory Card Size Supported (max) 32 GB
No
Fail.
People were saying in reviews how Motorla has a track record for solid build quality. I say to them, remember the RAZR dust under screen mess, the RIZR buttons falling off, etc? If you buy this, be prepared for it to decompose in about 6 months.
All that was what, 3 years ago. Have you seen the new ROKR build quality? RAZR v9? ZN50?
LogicFail.
Even the "lower end" Karma feels like a solid piece of metal when you hold it - moto's build quality has been fantastic recently.
Moto Q's are some of the most sturdy phones iv ever used
I have a MotoQ for work. The button inbetween the d-pad fell off after a month. They may feel solid, but feeling solid and actually being solid are two different things. I'm just not a fan of motorola. To each his own, I guess. $200 is still too much for this think, IMO.
My old Moto L2 is still running like new despite being well over four years old and being used by my friend who is notorious for destroying gadgets (gave him the well-used L2 two years ago after he destroyed an SE and Nokia in just over a year each).
It might only be one model, but that particular Motorola is easily one of the best-built devices of any kind I've ever used.
I still say fail. This thing isn't really appealing to me. The only reason anyone likes it is because it's Android with a keyboard. It looks too complicated, too cluttered, and I personally dislike the hardware, as solid as Moto has allegedly become. I don't see this one doing well. I'll hang on to my overclocked MyTouch and wait for a 1ghz+ processor with Android. That's going to be awesome.
brrr....brrrrr...Hello Moto...
Moto makes great hardware just a terrible OS, I still see people using the RAZR , so with android, its a sure win
That price is for existing customers.
What price is it for new customers?
And why wasn't that "existing customers" part mentioned?
even if it is, still garbage.
(thinks back, remembers G1 being $324 after tax)
(slinks away from keyboard)
$449 i think
HTC Leo, T-Mobile. Please do it.
+1
With the exception of the iPhone, AT&T hasn't a single phone I would like to own. Why can't any of these nice Android phones or anything nice in general come to this mess of a network. And before someone bestows such wisdom upon me: I can't switch networks.
Because ATT is afraid to offend Apple. Look what happened with O2 in Euro. Apple dropped em. I can't wait til' Apple drops ATT. Maybe we'll get some good choices then.
I live in the UK and Apple has hardly "dropped" O2. They have simply ended their period of exclusivity. It is good for Apple, Other Carriers, and most of all Consumers. It is most probably also good for O2, I would bet that as exclusivity expires some of Apple's extravagant reimbursement requirements from network providers will be lowered, furthermore O2 will be bringing other promising phones to market as well
Yes, exclusivity agreement that I'm sure O2 didn't come up with. If it were up to O2 they'd probably keep the iPhone as long as they could. But Apple "dropped" em. Sorry that's the way I see it. I may be wrong. But I can't believe with how popular the iPhone is today that any carrier would want to not offer it.
still waiting for a good competition to iPhone.
HTC Leo not good enough for you? Or HTC Hero?
Reality distortion fields can make you wait forever.
What?
I should of said @vibhor goyal
This kid never seen the Omnia HD?
You still can't get a phone with as good a browsing experience as the iPhone. Android is close, but it just doesn't compare to the ease and fluidity of the iPhone browser. You can call me a fanboy, but its true. I think most people will agree. I do really like Android though.
@darbear5610: We're talking smartphones here.
@themonsteraria: HTC Leo still isn't out yet and the Hero doesn't even come close to the specs of the iPhone 3GS.
@everyone else: he's actually right. At the moment, there aren't really any phones out there that compare with the 3GS specs wise(except that one Toshiba WM phone, but from what I've read, the phone doesn't actually perform very well). Granted there's a few on the horizon that look amazing but nothing I've seen so far that's actually out compares favorably.
Palm Pre, Palm Pixi, HTC leo, HTC hero, Touch Pro 2, and on down the line, all viable options(granted some we're still waiting on) outside of the iPhone.
@What a surprise: There I completely disagree with you. The android browser(as well as some others including opera and skyfire) is every bit as good as Mobile Safari. It's a bit held back at this point in time due to crappy hardware it runs on, but the browser itself is at least as good.
@Mark
The Omnia HD IS a smartphone =\....
@N900: I was under the impression that it's a featurephone and not a full-fledged smartphone? If I'm mistaken then I apologize.
Well..the whole HD thing makes it look gimmicky, but yeah it's a smarthphone.
@Mark
The browser on the G1 is horrible. I've owned mine since Feb and it is awful. The phone is highly underpowered and the OS isn't all there yet. As much as I hate to admit it, the iPhone OS is much better and the hardware is still way ahead of many other phones for now.
I hate nothing more than browsing on my G1. Hopefully a huge boost in hardware specs makes android a better OS to use, sadly this QLIQ doesn't have the hardware I'm looking for.
Ok, whatever, maybe the software is just as good, but the EXPERIENCE isn't nearly as good, and that is what I am talking about. We are talking about PHONES here, and the fact of the matter is no one seems to be able to package software and hardware together to make as good a web browsing experience as the iPhone. Which is to bad, because I ain't payin' the crazy amount of money I would need to pay for an iPhone on AT&T, and I want a phone that has the same incredible browsing experience as my 1st gen iPod touch.
NO. GODDAMMIT.
I'm not paying $200 for this. If it was half that I would've been tempted, but disappointed. I was really looking forward to this, too.
Ditto.
It's a stupid price - shockingly stupid, as a matter of fact. Where is T-Mobile's head?
Pricing has gone way up on smartphones as of late. Except for the iPhone. The TP2 on TMO is 350. They probably thought at 200 it's a deal compared to that. But 350 for the TP2 is insane as well...
@000000: Considering that the industry is seemingly trying to move people to smartphones en masse, this isn't the way to do it. Offer them inexpensive phones, and then after everyone has moved over, kill off the dumbphones and rake in the cash - that's usually how these bait and switches are done, but for some reason they don't seem to have learned that. That's a good thing; still gives the consumer a chance to be more aware of what's going on.
I have an HTC Hero and although I also own a Nokia N97 and an HTC touchHD, and I have owned iPhone 3GS, Omnia(i900) and other (older) smartphones, I've never found anything so fast, smart, cool, easy, and plainly good as Android with its amazing free apps and Sense UI.
I have had it since 3 months now, and it's still a joy to use. Unfortunately I find the excellent capacitive multitouch screen, just a bit too small for media , browsing, and GPS, otherways this phone would be just about perfect.
As soon as an android phone will come out that will work as good as my Hero and have a screen over3" and maybe a physical qwerty , I know that I will jump on it.
Today I have put my tough HD for sale because the HTC HD2 (Leo) will come to my little country in just 2 weeks and I must get one, but if this motodroid would have been a possibility also here in Europe I would surely have considered an option.
I guess that even if I loved win mob with TouchFLO UI, without noticing it I have become an Android convert.
$149 for existing customer would be a sweet spot to convert more users...@ $199 is okay. Worst of all, this isn't a much upgrade to G1/MyTouch other than some software updates. Now, let's bring on the serious Android v2 phone already. Stop the rehash...please....
Way too high a price for what it is.. if it was decent I'd have ditched 1st gen iphone but not for that price
As someone with an out of contract, ready to kick to the curb, first gen iphone, I can agree with that sentiment.
@themonsteraria
HTC Leo and HTC Hero are phones, not software.
One of the biggest issues is that people are trying to compare phones, with iPhones software.
Also, android is an absolutely fabulous software, grinding from G1, to the Magic, it was great, but I dont think the Hero's Sense UI (Is that what you where referring to Monsteraria?) is on part with the iPhones software in the least bit, Sense is just a revamped, new look of the old android.
Also, Android has tried reskinning, and retweaking its UI almost 3 times in a year? (Original [G1/Magic], Sense, and Blur) When the iPhone hasn't had to do that at all.
So as great as Android might be, I don't think it can match iPhone. And no, I'm not a fanboy, I own both Android and iPhone devices.
Sense and Blur are NOT a product of Android
Didn't say they where, I said it was a re-skin.
I think he was referring to this:
"Also, Android has tried reskinning, and retweaking its UI almost 3 times in a year? (Original [G1/Magic], Sense, and Blur) When the iPhone hasn't had to do that at all."
Only the original UI was actually developed by Google.
On a side note, I disagree with you completely and would say that in my experience the Android UI outclasses that of the iPhone completely. The only thing holding it back right now is the crappy hardware it has, so far, run on.
I like the fact that it has exchange integration.. is that push email?
Bah for that price I'll pass, shame.
Oh come on, $200? For a hardware that is not even current? I wonder how much the HTC hero will be.
iPhone 3G - Free
Motorola CLIQ - $200
EPIC FAIL
Nice try Moto
Funny to see that T-Mobile phone with a 3G displayed. Good luck finding that in the United States.
I have 3G everywhere I go on T-Mo (except inside a few buildings.. and my faraday cage apartment..)
No wait iPhoneis free in UK
$99 in US
sorry lol
The DEXT is free in the UK too.
$199 for an Android phone? I'll take the crack pipe please. Oh wait, this isn't Jalopnik.
This thing look alike my nokia n97...
There are a lot of great additions to this phone that the G1 didnt have, but I can't pay $200 for the same processor I did a year ago, with the same 320 X 240 video recording.
I'll wait till they throw some Snapdragon in an Android phone.
I don't think anyone has touched or has had 1sthand feel of this phone and its software.
I've played with iPhone 3GS and all the Android phones, plus the PRE.
PRE is nice, and is just the right size and feel. But the Market place has TRIALs...
little bit of a higher end plasticy feel.
iPhone...ok..Bigger Screen...Apps market good too. Can't multitask like the PRE.
All other Android...plasticy cheap feeling. feels like it will fall apart as soon as dropped. Boring Front End.
CLIQ...hey, solid feeling phone. Please get a hold of one and then tell me it isn't. one complaint is that its a tad slippery at times. I would rubbercoat that battery cover if it was me. Awesome multi tasking, RIM beware, awesome messaging. Market place is growing larger. Very neet PUSH messaging all around system. You will not regret the fact that all your configurations will be saved if you lose this phone. You will be glad when you are able to wipe that data if you ever lose it.
I don't know what your talking about, my G1 feels like a brick, and stands up to punishment like a brick as well.
I don't like that price. mainly because I'm broke, but also because I doubt it will be nearly as successful as it could be--given competition from the iphone, pre, and other android devices
OMFG a smart Motorola!!!
@What a surprise: There I completely disagree with you. The android browser(as well as some others including opera and skyfire) is every bit as good as Mobile Safari. It's a bit held back at this point in time due to crappy hardware it runs on, but the browser itself is at least as good.
Mark, the browser might be as good but the actual screen sucks. Capacitive is the way to go for browsing. I can't stand resistive. And most phones have this still. I'm just saying.
@Scott
You need to do a little research my friend the G1, Mytouch 3g , Hero and most Android phones have capacitive screens. I don't understand why people keep saying that the Safari browser on the iPhone is better than the Android browser. Having used both I can tell no major differences and both work really well. Seriously though Android needs some good hardware to go along with the kickass software.
@Mitsu8
The browser is about on par with the iPhone 3G from what I hear. But because of the hardware (still this god damn 528Mhz processor, though they did clock it higher rather than the 384Mhz of the G1), it can't match up to the speeds of the iPhone 3Gs. That is why the iPhone is still on top for now in terms of browsing. Hopefully we better hardware soon (the Moto Sholes might be better). I'm still waiting for an Android phone on AT&T (I don't want an iPhone).
The $199 is kind of higher than I expected but it seems like T-mobile is selling it for that because they seem to have no problems selling the myTouch at the same price and the Cliq is definitely an upgrade over the myTouch. It kind of makes it sad that Palm had to lower their price for the Pre even though the processor is better on it.
That user interface looks like an abortion. This thing is a TOY, not a phone. All this Facebook/Twitter crap is useless for big boys. Phone. Email. Productivity apps. MAKE A REAL ANDROID PHONE ALREADY MOTOROLA!
Hey, here's a hint, you can turn them off.
I think this device looks promising- but I wont know until I can find the Processor and memory spec :/ anyone found these?
If it had wifi, I might consider it. But as far as I know, no wifi. So no go on this joint.
Huh? It most certainly has wifi. Says so right on www.t-mobile.com/cliq
I read a review of the cliq that said wifi was not present. I hope it does. and Ill hit the web site up.
$200 *on contract*? please.
it'll never look like that. After all the bullshit abut the latest LG Chocolate I'm not holding my breath for that junk Cliq.
what are you talking about. The phone is not a prototype, the phone you see is shipping. its s/w you see on the screen is what it will go out with. everything you see on Tmobile site is the actual product.
so how much did yal expect it to cost? $200 is a lil high but isn't bad to me, and they still may throw ina $50 mail in rebate to make it $150.
If the battery life were appreciably better than my G1, I'd still be tempted, even a $200. Based on BGR's preview, I'll wait & see how that turns out before I consider it, tho.
Hey folks. Now I too would really love to see what Android could do unleashed on more hearty hardware. Still, that's not the only issue we're looking at here. Though certain posters (read: "poster." Read further: Mark) are quick to point out that nothing around has hardware to match the iPhone 3Gs, that is hardly the most relevant issue here. The issue is the user experience, which includes software, which is really where moto is trying to break through here. Think of it this way: you could revamp my old my old Speak & Spell with a dual core, 1000MHz Cortex A8 processor and a gig of RAM and say nothing touches it's hardware, right? Now, obviously the iPhone (arguably) has some advantages over a Speak & Spell, but I think you get the picture. We're talking about more here than who can process a teraflop on their phone.
The real cool of Motoblur is how it integrates all of your contacts and calendars (a la Palm Synergy), and then bubbles pertinent info to the top in the form of live widgets on the homescreen. This really will be a powerhouse social networking platform.
Besides that, we have to look at what is done with the horsepower. We need a well-optimized UI to go along with the software/hardware combination here. So far, in the videos I've seen, the Cliq's UI is quite snappy. Anyone disagree there? Maybe someone has seen differently from me?
Anyway, just thought we (read again: Mark) might want to step back and look at the whole picture and consider the whole user experience, rather than just one aspect of it.
Consider it bought.
G1, we have been through a lot since launch and you have been the best, but I have found someone better.
We will go over the papers come October....
......don't cry please, you will make me......*sheds a tear*......
Screen is too small.
ok now that the cliq is out of the way WHEN I CAN HAS BLACKBERRY 9700???!?!?
35% cashback through Bing. Maybe it's almost worth it then? But... no. What happened to free :(
298 minutes away from cake!? tragedy...
I really really wish it had about twice or three times as much memory at least. the thing has litterall 4% of the memory of the smallest iphone. It does have micro SD which is huge but it can't run apps out of it so it's only good for data storage.
None the less I'll probably end up with one of the things. It still kicks ass all over my 2g iphone with dead screen areas, sky high fees, miserable keyboard and COMPLETE LACK OF CALENDAR ALARM CONTROL! Seriously, what were they thinking with that one? They even made it illegal for 3rd party Pims to have alarm control either. The best solution I have found is to sync with google calendar and use my sms service for alarms (yeah that required jailbreak). It's ridiculous PDA functions are what smart phones are for.
motorola rocks! i went thru 5, yes 5!, sidekick that were built by SHARP... then i bought the sidekick SLIDE...by motorala...sadly they stopped making it but that fone lasted me longer than all 5 sidekicks combined! its all about SLIDE screens! oh yea! cant wait!!!!!
and ifone may b better..but the damn no touch keys txting drives me NUTS!!!! if they made a ifone slide...then id meet my fone match soulmate! this is as close as they get...TMOBILE U ROCK MY SOX!
What the? Don't you know any better? It's dangerous to text and drive.
Yeah...I think it's time for the Hero. Anyone know how much that Sprint everything data plan is after taxes, fees, etc?
The CLIQ looks promising and I'm sure manufacturing costs (as well as the current financial state of Motorola) have factored greatly into the price, but for some reason $200 just seems like too much.
The phone is obviously geared towards socialites and most of those people are teenagers. Sure there are plenty of snooty and rich teens all over the States but even that seems like a bit of a sticker shock. Plus if you compare the phone to other established and popular smartphones (such as HTC's WinMo and Android offerings, BB's, Palm Pre, and the iPhone) it's a hard sell.
Good luck T-Mobile and I pray to God you know what the hell you're doing.
I think its reasonably priced, at par with other similar products.
Android OS is awesome...this should be a sure win for motorola
Why do I have a feeling its coming out with Android 1.6?
If it does and the hardware is durable (not cheap like the G1), it will be a winner as a G1 upgrade, regardless of price. There are so many G1 floppy screens (weak hinges!) that any G1 user will want the upgrade if its durable.
Now, if came out with Android 2.0, HSPA+ (21mbps READY) and 2 day battery life, that would be the shocker and a solid nail strike into the iPhone and Pre.
So to get this straight, IF you are a T-mobile existing customer then how much will it cost to upgrade to the Motorola cliq if the time for your cell phone upgrade is in December for example? I hope it won't be the $199.99..?
Also, When is the Gt-I7500 Galaxy from Samsung going to be at T-mobile? :D =]
Great price for andriod. I wanna see running device.