Software on it lets users aggregate contact information from various social networks and e-mail accounts. Small application "widgets" will show such information as your friends' Facebook status updates on the home screen.

The new device also sports a 5mp camera,  allowing for sharper images than most other phones, (excluding European Ericsson and Nokia) including Apple Inc.'s iPhone and its 3mp resolution.



Unveiled during a GigaOM mobile Internet conference in San Francisco, will be available from wireless carrier T-Mobile in time for the holiday season with pricing and release details in three weeks.

Motorola plans to unveil a second Android phone also be available for the holidays, likely through Verizon Wireless, which has already said it will be one of the US carriers for a Motorola smart phone.



Sanjay Jha, Motorola's co-CEO (right), head of mobile devices (and former Strathclyde University graduate) said Google Inc.'s Android software is a modern, well-written operating system that allows people do many different things with their phones. He said a vibrant community of programmers has sprung to build tools around Android.

Thousands of applications are already available for free or for sale directly from Android phones.

With Android, which Google encourages manufacturers to use and customize for free, Motorola can also offer distinctive features hopefully key in convincing cell phone shoppers that the Cliq is has an edge on the iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry devices.

Outside the US, the Cliq will be known as the Dext available through wireless carrier Orange in the UK and France, Telefonica in Spain and America Movil in South America.



Currently, T-Mobile sells two Android-running smart phones made by HTC Corp, and Sprint Nextel Corp is releasing one also made by HTC in October. Samsung Electronics Co. has said it is making an Android phone too.