Motorola is set to ratchet up the competition in Australia for high-end smartphones based on version 2.2 (Froyo) of the Android operating system, announcing today that its latest Milestone 2 device would be available through Vodafone and Optus in December.
The Milestone 2 represents a significant upgrade to the first Milestone, which launched through Optus in July. The new Motorola device comes with 1GHz CPU (up from 550MHz) and a 5 megapixel camera capable of filming video at a resolution of 720p, and can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, connecting up to five other mobile devices to its 3G mobile broadband link.
“Milestone 2 offers more power and more speed and has an improved keyboard, so you can send, access and share information even more quickly than before to manage your work and personal life,” said Timo Brouwer, managing director, Motorola ANZ and South Pacific. “This introduction not only reaffirms Motorola’s commitment to innovate on Android but offers consumers the features they crave, including fast web browsing, messaging, application downloads and multimedia.”
The device comes with 8GB of internal storage and a further 8GB microSD storage card in the box — although it can take cards up to 32GB. It features a 3.7″ screen running at a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels.
Motorola has not yet released any pricing information for the Milestone 2 in Australia. The first Milestone was available from Optus on a 24 month contract on a range of different monthly plans, starting from $19 (for a total minimum cost of $879) and ranging all the way up to $129 (total minimum cost of $2,996).
The news comes as mobile phone manufacturers have increasingly started to launch handsets based on version 2.2 of the Android platform — and to upgrade their existing local models to the same release. Telstra and HTC have made version 2.2 of Android available for the carrier’s flagship HTC Desire handset, and HTC’s Desire HD will also ship with Froyo through VHA.
Optus recently confirmed it would be allowing users of the Samsung Galaxy S handset to upgrade to Froyo in the coming weeks.
Image credit: Motorola
This is a really nice device from what I hear. It’s essentially the Droid 2 from what I can gather. Great improvements to the keyboard, camera and speed, but given it’s a last gen Qualcomm processor, it’s still lacking the 3D processing muscle of Samsung’s Hummingbird processor.
Still if games are of no interest, it’s hard to pick fault with this thing. I woudn’t mind picking one up contract free if the price is reasonable.
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