Motorola CLIQ - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Motorola Cliq is an Android-based mobile phone by Motorola.

The Cliq/Dext has 3G

3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...

/HSDPA (900, 1700, 2100); in the US, it is only compatible with T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network. It also has Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...

ability, a 5-megapixel camera and video recording (at 24 frames per second), a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, an HTML browser, and a QWERTY keyboard. It also has access to applications through the Android Market

Android Market

Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...

that is part of the Android operating system.

Some of the other key features of the device are Motoblur

Motoblur

Motoblur is an Android UI replacement and push-based service focused on social networking developed by Motorola. It aims at functional similarity to Palm's Synergy, including such features as Remote Wipe...

, remote wipe and link calls with mapping software.

Motoblur's primary function is to enable users to receive various updates from a variety of sources such as Twitter, Facebook, LastFM, and Email clients directly on their phone's main screen.

Motorola Dext (European edition) was launched by early October 2009 in the UK by Orange UK

Orange UK

Orange is a mobile network operator and internet service provider in the United Kingdom, which launched in 1994. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was purchased by France Télécom in 2000, which then adopted the Orange brand for all its other mobile communications activities...

followed by the US launch of the US edition Cliq by T-Mobile

T-Mobile

T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...

US on 2 November 2009.

On 23 January 2010, Motorola launched Cliq/Dext in Singapore, its first Asian market, exclusively through Singapore Telecom/Singtel. It launched on 9 April 2010 in Australia exclusively on the Optus

Optus

SingTel Optus Pty Limited is the second largest telecommunications company in Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Telecommunications...

mobile network.

Updates: Android 1.5

Notice, all updates include earlier update improvements as well, so newer updates seem to carry more improvements at first glance.

1.1.31

Early December 2009 T-Mobile US started pushing an operating system update OTA. Update features include: better battery life management, improved Bluetooth connection, touch screen accuracy improvement, accelerometer accuracy, and hang-up issues. The patch (to system version 1.1.31) is about 8 MB.

1.3.18

On 22 February 2010, Motorola released on over-the-air software upgrade to the Motoblur interface, its version number is 1.3.18. The update includes:

Enhanced battery life.
Improved touchscreen detection and accuracy.
Better audio routing preventing random occurrences of speakerphone during calls. Music is appropriately routed to the external speakers instead of the earphones.
General improvements to the Blur user interface and better notification of incoming calls as well as an improvement on missed call notifications.
Faster and more accurate GPS lock-ons for applications such as Google Maps, geotagging for photographs, and various other GPS functions.
Additional Windows Media formats compatibility such as .WMA and .WAV media formats.
Improvements to Bluetooth functionality such as compatibility with Bluetooth car kits and the ability to export contacts to the car kit to for calling, displaying contact names, and viewing call history.
A SIM card management application that allows for the importing, exporting, and deletion of contacts in groups or individually.
Improved stability in applications that quit unexpectedly and occurrences of unresponsiveness.
Provides access to the latest Google applications such as the Android market, YouTube, Google Talk and etc.
An update to the latest version of the preloaded Quickoffice which allows editing of Microsoft Office documents.

1.4.8

Early April 2010, T-Mobile and Motorola released a new 2-part update, which includes:

1.4.2 - Updated Radio (Stage 1). Phone then reboots & downloads OTA The 1.4.8 Update.
1.4.8 - Stage 2
The "End Call" key was relocated within the calling screen to reduce instances of unintentionally ending Active calls
General improvements to text messaging - especially for longer message threads
Enhanced battery performance
Improves the touch screen sensitivity and response of the device-including touch sensitivity for keys on or around the display borders
Enhances audio quality in certain scenarios in which users experienced issues
Set-up wizard improved to make Motoblur set-up for new users or those who have been prompted to re-enter information easier
Repairs audio routing to prevent: spontaneous speakerphone activations during calls and the random occurrence of music playback through the earpiece instead of appropriate external speakers
Improves user interface performance-consistently notifying users when a new call is coming in which reduces missed call notifications
Provides faster GPS performance for applications such as Google Maps, Geotagging of photos and other GPS functions
Compatible with more media formats including .WMA and .WAV Windows media files
Enables users to listen to visual voicemail via Bluetooth and enables the Bluetooth car kit to sync to user's device, thus the car kit can display the names of incoming callers and download phone book contacts (calls can now be made from the car kit display and enables users to view the call history list from the car kit display)
Enables user to import, export or delete contacts individually or in groups
Additional device stability reduces occurrence of unresponsiveness and/or programs quitting unexpectedly
Updated Google Mobile Services application provides access to the latest Android 1.5 compatible versions of Google applications such as Maps, Talk, YouTube, Market, and more
Adds the ability to view documents in Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office 2007 is a Windows version of the Microsoft Office System, Microsoft's productivity suite. Formerly known as Office 12 in the initial stages of its beta cycle, it was released to volume license customers on November 30, 2006 and made available to retail customers on January 30, 2007...

format
Some users of this version report a spacebar (and possibly other keys) bug when the light sensor detects dim lighting, such as in doors or at night. (link to forum postings coming soon)

Upgrade delays and leak

At various times, Motorola promised to update the Cliq to Android OS 2.1. The update was slated to release during Q2 of 2010, but again postponed. Around August 2010, A leaked version of the 2.1 update was released, enabling users to receive the update without having to root the device.
On 9 November 2010 the upgrade was officially released to the U.S. public. The European and Latin American versions of the phone (the Dext) will not receive the update.

CyanogenMod and Android 2.3

The popular aftermarket Android operating system CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod is an after-market replacement for the firmware of over sixty cell phones and Internet tablets. Based on the Android mobile computer operating system, it offers features and options not found in the official firmware distributed by vendors of these devices.Features supported by...

supports the Motorola Cliq as of version 7.1, a release based on Android 2.3.

Cliq XT

The Motorola Cliq XT (also known as the Motorola Quench) was released on 17 March 2010. Its functionally is very similar to the Cliq, except the XT does not have a physical keyboard.

The Motorola Cliq XT has been surrounded by update controversy since its early days. Soon after its launch Motorola had a scheduled the Cliq XT to receive the Android 2.1 update in Q2 2010. After months of silent delays, being pushed back to Q3 2010, then Q4 2010, and a period of "additional testing in process." On 3 February 2011 Motorola made the announcement that the Cliq XT will not be receiving the 2.1 update and that it would stay on its current Android 1.5 build.

Cliq 2

At CES 2011, Motorola revealed the Motorola Cliq 2 which was released on 19 January 2011. The phone retains a similar design to the original Cliq, including the physical keyboard and the Motoblur UI. Also featuring Android 2.2, a 3.7" (854 x 480)FWVGA display and a 5MP camera with dual LED flash. It also housed a unique "honeycomb" style keyboard as well as upgrading to a TI OMAP3 3620 1Ghz processor.
Currently the Cliq 2 is only available in the U.S. on a 2 year contract from T-Mobile