I would imagine this will need some sort of dataplan. It has access to social network sites on it. Now, if they make a special deal for a reduced-cost data plan if it's limited to just certain sites, that might be a compelling play if the phone itself is cheap enough.

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My provider has two data plans.

A 7$ unlimited browsing-only plan, and a variety of other data plans. Not sure how it differentiates, but it does.

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I agree...the real smartphone crowd is looking elsewhere, this is for teens whose parents who want a cheap device with a QWERTY and no data plan to add to the Family Plan. It fills a niche that we often forget.

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I'm actually willing to bet that sales of this will pale in comparison to the iPhone 3G among the teenage demographic. If the parents are rich enough to even consider shopping for a cell phone more expensive than the default subsidized phone given in a family package, they wouldn't need too much convincing to drop a few more tens on an iPhone and plan.

"But Da-ahhhhhd, Susie's been using her iPod touch to cheat on tests for a year now. The teachers can't even figure it out. Imagine how well I'd do if I got an iPhone with a data plan. If you insist on this Motorola thingy, you might as well just get me a regular cellphone and save money."

"But Mo-ohhhhhm, this does everything. If you get me an iPhone, you can scratch the iPod off my birthday list and you don't need to drop money on a netbook like you and dad were thinking. This Motorola thingy doesn't do any of thaaaaat."

What status-seeking middle-class to upper-middle-class parent wouldn't be swayed by that?

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Parents like those are why people grow up to be complete douchebags.

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