Motorola Charm spotted in the wild, said to be hitting T-Mobile later this month
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 6th 2010 7:37PM
posted July 6th 2010 7:37PM
We'd already had a pretty good indication that the Motorola Charm was headed to T-Mobile, but it looks like most doubt has now been put to rest -- TmoNews has what appears to be the first shot of the phone in the wild, and evidence that materials (with the name "Project Basil') are already arriving at T-Mobile stores. Unfortunately, there's not much new information otherwise, but the site's tipster has apparently confirmed that the phone does indeed have a Backflip-like touchpad on the rear and that the screen is around 3-inches. Still no word on an exact release date, but TmoNews says it should be rolling out by the end of the month.
I wonder why the search button is at the bottom?
@Maxipad thats how moto does it.
@Maxipad
...Nice?
@Maxipad search button is ok
But why why place the phone button on the far right side.
@DefPoet Because they worried more about the form factor of the device rather than the functionality and placement of keys/onscreen items this device is going to take some getting used to for most people most likely... It's like looking at the keyboard on the HTC Touch Pro for verizon, the M key was seperated from the rest of the keyboard so that arrows could be placed on the phone instead of making it easier to use...
@Maxipad
The only thing to wonder about on this phone is probably the price for data, since it got advertised with cheaper messaging phones and WHAT THE HECK IS THAT BLACK TAPE on the top of the phone blocking? ffc anyone? yeah I doubt that
@MrFluffyThing
Sigh. That's true. I want the perfect mix between form and function with android.
HTC touchpro 2 with android and a little thinner please HTC
So a Backflip and a Droid X walk into a bedroom.....
@DefPoet I'd have to say that the QWERTY keyboard is the only good part of the TP2 though, the rest of the hardware is rather mediocre. What I'd like to see come from HTC next is an HD2 style phone get a release with a *decent* QWERTY keyboard and running android with similar specs as the Incredible or HD2 atleast...
@Maxipad
That's one ugly duckling of a phone imho. No offense, but I wouldn't be caught dead with this mistaken-for-a-coaster-when-face-down device.
@a dumb cat
Thats fuckin hilarious ahhaha
But i like this, its kind of the start of everybody having low end smartphones replacing basic phones.
is the screen touchscreen? is it like a palm pixi sorta design? i want specs
@Zeroexe43
Android in America = touchscreen.
Spec wise it should be around the pixi or mytouch.
@Zeroexe43
I sincerely hope so, otherwise you're stuck using that ridiculous touchpad on the back.
@DefPoet what do you mean android in america= touch screen? there is always a first, hopefully not
Truth be told, this phone does not look too good. The main problem is the ergonomics. Will it look like a brick in your pocket? What ever happened to that T-mobile blackjack form for a phone? Sleek and sexy..
Android sells itself short by running on these stupid budget phones
@Nateap87
I kinda like that people on a budget have a crack at android. If nothing else it just adds momentum to android as a whole. Besides, aren't they enforcing minimum hardware specs after 2.2?
::yawn::
The keyboard seems really small and the keys are too close together.
Are Android apps optimized for square screens?
If this thing has a QVGA screen I'll pass..
This phone looks hot!! I currently have the Pantech Slate, which Ive owned like 4 smart phones during that time and none of them could match the cheap Pantech's Large Keyboard.. This MOTO looks like a Pantech Slate with a supercharged CPU on Crack!!
I actually am looking forward to trying it out - kinda looks like a BlackBerry with Android on it.
@Demo22 it reminds me of a super-sized Q_ and I have good memories from that one. Q was a solid device (for me anyway)
@nefnet13 I can't believe I forgot about the Q! Yes, this is the Q for a new generation for sure.
@nefnet13: if Moto had kept the Q form factor for this one and added a touchscreen, it would be awesome.
The Q is one of the best looking phones I've seen.
do you know how many people on this planet LOVE the blackberry form factor? ... a lot
I'm going to look at this pretty close as i decide on my next phone as long as it's not still running android 1.5 like my Moto Cliq
I dont think its that bad, I had a Nokia E71 which was great, imagine that with android, and thats a nice phone
Is anyone else experiencing deja vu with this product? Moto Q perhaps? and what is so poorly erased out of the phones upper right hand corner? carrier insignia?
@iparadisebeach Probably blocking a prototype or early release ID number.
It looks like a Peek on steroids.
This thing is ugly a hell DAMN
What is the backflip like touch pad on the back?
Are the dimensions available anywhere?
sooo fugly
big elease month for tmo? galaxy S on the 21st :)
So... is this going to replace your blackberry?
ok, now one with a 10 digit T9 and d-pad
Hmm. It's a hell of a lot better looking here then in those other photos. And I'd probably rather have this then any of Motorola's low end offers. And sorry but no, Moto doesn't get the right to call them "mid range". HTC is the only company making good enough Android handsets to be considered mid range.
So I'm kind of conflicted about this, half of me thinks that it's a right ugly bastard that no-one will buy, and the other half is actually quite taken by it. Android looks a bit crowded on that screen, though.
I would buy this phone as a replacement device, till i could get something better. Though, i have to admit, the touchscreen and the touchpad in the back might work well with this phone.
This probably means the 2.1 update is coming to other Motoblur phones real soon, I can't wait till my Cliq XT gets upgraded. (They run 1.5 now.)
does it have wi-fi calling? that's what it really needs!