• Moto Q9m and Q9c are the CDMA versions of the Q9h, and the consumer and business models, respectively. Q9m probably dropping by the end of the month; Q9c available Q4.

• UTStarcom SMT5800 (HTC Libra) is a WM6 smartphone with both a numeric and sliding QWERTY keyboard, 2MP cam, 128MB flash, 64MB RAM, EV-DO (upgradeable to Rev. A). Most likely available in Oct.

• Samsung i760 is hitting in Sept.

• Another HTC phone, a Verizon version of the Mogul (UTStarcom XV6800)—same specs as Sprint's model it seems, also dropping in October.

• Palm Treo 755p will be in available in November, running Palm OS 5.4.9.

• RIM BlackBerry 8130 Pearl is another Verizon version of older phone, though it comes with a 2MP cam and EV-DO—still, not so exciting with the Pearl 2 around the corner probably the Pearl 2. No release date mentioned, oddly.

• Moto Z6c Jackques is EV-DO CDMA but packs GSM for jetsetters who can wait until Nov. Its cousin, the Z6tv, um, has TV features, available "second half" of '07, we presume.

• Verizon CDM-8630 is an entry level with a simple UI and one-touch dialing, also second half of '07.

• Samsung SCH-U410 and LG VX5400 are two mid-level clamshells due by year's end, replacing the U340 and VX5300, respectively. The LG VX8300 is also getting bumped in that time frame, by the VX8350.

• Ending the list is a pair of Samsung phones: a CDMA version of the U700 and the U900, which looks to sport a 3MP cam and high-res camcorder. Both are slotted for the last half of '07.

Okay, end spoilers. [Phone Arena, Image via Flickr]

Two things: First, I'm very glad to see Motorola reemphasizing their UI and OS development.

Secondly, it's also nice to see their ultra hyped "Media Monster" device, the z8, get interesting updates like the cable box programming, youtube uploads, and feature movies on chips. (BTW, that last one is doomed to fail, like PSP movies on Memory Sticks).

But remember, we've already seen this device at 3GSM in Barcelona. This isn't news; this is spin. As far as new phones go, the new ROKRz6 is a subvariant of the z8. If anything, the RAZR 2, previously unheard of before today, deserved the hype gathered around the event, too perfectly held a month after Moto's first quarter loss since 2004 was revealed a month ago.

But let's face it: Even with updated hardware and software, the RAZR2 is going to be perceived as merely another RAZR design evolution. Sure, it has significant updates to help keep it competitive. See all the posts we did today on it.
And no doubt reviewers will like these phones in the official reviews. But I also have no doubt that the same journalists and analysts will be sitting at the lunch table with their colleagues talking about how much Motorola needs a true flagship phone. The truth is this: If no one wants your high-end phones anymore, it's because your high-end phones look exactly like your low-end ones.

Motorola's loss was blamed on weaker demand for more expensive models. This report makes it sound like that's because people want low end phones like a $50 RAZR or $100 Q, but the truth is, back when the RAZR was unveiled and Moto's marketshare jumped, it was a highly coveted $500 device, not a low-end variant. You gave people something unique we all wanted to put in our pockets. Please do that again.

Note to Zander: Let your engineers build you your Blue Steel. – Brian Lam

[Gizmodo]

CDMA phones are resource hungry, so they hog up a lot of battery life. The new Q is GSM-based, so Moto claims it'll use significantly less power. In addition, Motorola also gave the new Q a few battery-saving features. One of them relates to the phone's display. The new Q's display dims itself faster than the one on the old Q. This can be both good and bad depending how you look at it. But combined, Motorola says this equals more juice.

What about the keyboard? Believe it or not, but I like my old Q's keyboard better. Something about the new QWERTY keyboard on the Q9 makes it easier to hit the wrong key (especially since the buttons are now squished together). So until I put the new Q through a real world battery test, I'm holding off on the upgrade. – Louis Ramirez

Motorola May 07 [Gizmodo]

10:55 - Ed Zander: "RAZR is not just a product, it's a brand, a brand we'll continue to market for years to come. Over 98 million RAZRs sold. This quarter, 100 million RAZRs worldwide. I believe it's the fastest selling consumer device ever. Five new colors for GSM markets. But..."

RAZR 2 - Super thin, super strong, RAZR 2: Worlds ultimate feature, style fashion phone - larger 2-inch display on outside. Twice the brightness and 10X resolution. Vacuumized metal front. Stainless steel and cast aluminum housing support. More scratch resistant cast aluminum. One-piece molding means less chance of breakpoints.

Features: 3G HSDPA, EVDO, or EDGE/GPRS. 500MHz ARM 11 processor. Race through menu to get apps you want. Rich graphics. Linux/Java phone - available on some versions of the RAZR 2. Complete UI redesign.

Crystal Talk noise-reduction technology. Talking phone. MP3 player with Windows Media capability. Highspeed USB 2.0. Stereo Bluetooth compatible with ROKR S9 headphones and front touchscreen. Google Maps application in cluded. Movies can be viewed portrait or landscape, multishot mode in still camera, "see what I see" video conferencing with live streaming footage. "Really simple," says Zander. Available in all technologies this summer.

10:45 - The new Moto Z8: this is the phone we saw Ed Zander using, which he calls the "media monster," a camera phone with cool bent slider action. "When form meets function this well, convergence becomes a reality. People want form to define function." Z8, 3.4Mbps. 2MP camera, video at 30 fps; first high-res screen with 16 million colors. HSDPA. Up to 4GB MicroSD card (10 movies); partnership with Universal Pictures; Bourne Identity preloaded; also working with Sony and Warner. Program it to download TV shows from DVR. SSX snowboarding will be preloaded at summer launch. Send photos to Flickr, MySpace or YouTube with just one click. "Complete out of the box multimedia experience; more capable than an iPod," says Jeremy Dale. Ships across Europe in June.

10:40 ROKR Z6: First true Linux Java product; solid feel "like Mercedes car door," says Jeremy Dale; music sync, music management, music enjoyment. Transfer speeds: download in less than 3 seconds. Storage capacity: external slot for 2GB cards (1,000 songs). Windows Media Player, album art, playlists. Simple "drag and drop" process. ROKR Modality: shut, it's an MP3 player with only keys for music; open it's a phone. Stereo audio, and stereo Bluetooth, with new pair of sweet red Bluetooth headphones (S9, to be included in-box in Europe).

10:25 Q8 and Q9 Introduction: Jeremy Dale - "At Motorola, we want devices to work for us rather than against us; single device, cell phone will be that device...Today we're announcing worldwide availability of Q8 and HSDPA-version of Q9. It redefines what a smartphone should be, Europe and other regions this summer. 3.6 Megabits per second, twice as fast as nearest competitor. Q9 is the fastest smartphone in the world today, and critically, where currency of the realm is time, speed matters."

Q9 details: New ergonomic design; seven dedicated keys, adaptive display for sunshine and indoor situations, using dual light sensors not found on any other product in this space. Only 2MP camera smartphone; Windows Mobile 6; 325MHz processor that can handle three activities simultaneously; stereo speakers. "Beautiful slim design."

10:21 - What's after RAZR? Jim Wicks, corporate VP of design: "Motorola invented thin, and will continue to do thin. We do it right, without compromise. Going forward, introducing a layering effect on top of thin, through Linux Java, touch; more digital than mechanics. Modality: when in music mode, it transforms itself to look like a music player; when a camera, it will look like a camera. Going forward, the focus will be less about one particular product, more about a suite of products that define the brand. Going forward, best of hardware will be married to the best experience. The resulting behavior is what becomes iconic. In doing this, we're able to launch a suite of products with immediate impact: not thin for thin's sake, not arbitrary form factor - it's a rich experience."

10:17 Here's Ed! Introducing peeps that are making it happen. He says "products", plural. New and exciting products. Plural. For sure.

10:15am - Movie pf people with Moto phones - including Will Ferrell and a bunch of much prettier people. Motorola all over the world. Moto on QVC. Kanye and Moto. RED Moto (with Charlie Sheen?) Lots of drums. Moto: Big in Japan.

10:12am - Some crunchy new electric folk music is playing, and the slideshow on the big screens depicts a multiple choice quiz about Motorola's history and trivia. (Motorola executed the first VOIP cellular phone call in what year? What was the year the first Motorola insignia appeared? One of the world's most expensive handsets, the Motorola SLVR L7 Diamond mobile retails for? Answer: 193?, 2006, $75,000)

– Noah Robischon & Wilson Rothman