Launched on November 2, 2009, the Motorola CLIQ is only compatible with T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network. This handset features MOTOBLUR, running on Android 1.5, which allows the user to receive continuous updates on the home screen from several social networking sources such as Facebook, Twitter, email and other widgets. CLIQ launched at a subsidized price of $200. The European version (DEXT) is offered by Orange UK.
"They were smart enough to know that just doing another Android phone wasn't enough in itself, so they pulled together and created all this social networking glue to bind the experience together. It's cohesive enough to call the Cliq a different experience from other, similar devices like the Sprint HTC Hero, and is a pretty damn good first step in a possible Motorola comeback."
"Market realities and carrier demands have meant the middling CLIQ and DEXT are the first to get time in the spotlight. We think this is just the beginning, though; hardware will inevitably improve, and BLUR -- a system that is currently right in principle and wrong in execution -- will evolve to become a much more usable platform. "
"With its excellent design, user interface improvements, and admirable feature set, the Motorola Cliq gives a big boost to the Android operating system. We had some performance quibbles with the device, and the MotoBlur interface can be a bit much, but the phone has a lot to like."
"The Cliq has a very decent QWERTY keyboard and doesn't slow down much over time. Simply put: if you care about text communications comfortably, the Cliq is today's best Android phone for the U.S market."
"This first Android phone from the company that invented the cellphone aggregates all your social networking accounts and contacts and delivers updates right to the home screen in ways both intuitive, clever and potentially overwhelming. And with its slideout QWERTY, it’s easy to respond and message and post to your favorite sites."