The first non-slider, QWERTY-packing Android phone is now on sale from T-Mobile USA. The Motorola Charm may not be the most technically advanced phone on the market, but it does boast a full hardware keyboard beneath the screen, which should appeal to BlackBerry users, and those who don't want or like a slide-out screen.
It also has a 2.8" screen, as well as GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a 3 megapixel camera.. In an interesting move, Motorola also blessed the Charm with a touchpad on the back of the device, to allow for scrolling without covering the screen with your finger. The Charm is available now for $75 with a new 2-year contract, or $269 with no contract.
While I don't personally want this device, I think it does have some serious mass-market appeal. It's very cheap by smartphone standards, and it has that very nice-looking keyboard, which are quite popular among feature-phone users. As a former BlackBerry user myself, I know how nice it is to have the keyboard so immediately accessible. I can totally see T-Mobile selling tons of these little guys, which will help bring Android to a much wider audience. Win win.
This is definitely an odd little phone. The size and shape of the screen is especially interesting, as well as that touchpad thing on the back. I'm not sure useful that would be in real life. But, the price is right, and it's pretty fast, and it's just a nice sweet little phone. Plus, I'm all for manufacturers playing around with phone layout and designs, because I am sick to death of iPhone lookalikes.
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