AT&T, Motorola Bust an Android Move
DALLAS (
) --
AT&T
(T) - Get Report
, entering what could be a challenging few months, just announced its first smartphone powered by
Google's
(GOOG) - Get Report
Android operating system.
On March 7, AT&T will start selling
Motorola's
(MOT)
new
Backflip phone
. The smartphone, Motorola's fifth Android device, features a keyboard and touchscreen as well as
a touch panel located behind the screen
.
AT&T
first announced its Android plans
at the CES show earlier this year, and will also start offering Android phones from
DELL
(DELL) - Get Report
and
HTC
during the first half of this year.
The telecom giant, which also has clinched a deal to sell
PALM's
(PALM)
, is beefing up its stable of products in what looks to be a crucial year for the company.
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There has been a great deal of interest in AT&T during recent months, thanks to the rapidly shifting dynamics of the telecom market. In addition to
from
Verizon
(VZ) - Get Report
, AT&T's exclusive deal with
Apple
(AAPL) - Get Report
to sell the
has been said to
, although the Dallas telco has refused to discuss this.
AT&T recently announced that Apple's eagerly-anticipated
iPad
will be available on its 3G network in the spring
.
AT&T
beat Wall Street's estimates in its recent fourth-quarter results
, boosted by new wireless subscribers. The company's shares dipped 2 cents, or 0.08%, to $25.38 in pre-market trading Thursday.
-- Reported by James Rogers in New York
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