It appears that the Motorola Milestone, also known as the Droid, is allegedly coming to the UK on December 7th via online retailer Expansys for £449.99. Rumors abound that T-Mobile and Vodafone plan to release the Milestone in the UK, but as of yet, there is no official announcement.

The Motorola Milestone features Android 2.0, 3.7-inch touch-sensitive display with 854 x 480 pixel resolution, a 5.0-megapixel camera with auto-focus and video recording, GPS navigation, media player, and a microSD and microSDHC memory card slot.

source: Talk Android

The GSM version of the HTC Hero was the first Android handset featuring the deeply personalized Sense interface that managed to steal our hearts. Later it became one of the most widespread models based on this operating system. Several other handsets with the same interface followed suit – a version for Sprint and the DROID ERIS that´s on offer with Verizon. It seems that AT&T customers will also be able to get their hands on the device and take advantage of its full capabilities, including 3G functionality. Why do we think so? Well, an unlocked version of the HTC Hero featuring support for 850/1900MHz frequencies is already on sale at the online store of Negri Electronics. Moreover, the rumor has it precisely this handset will be released by AT&T at the beginning of 2010. The cell phone can be ordered from Negri Electronics for $579.50.
So, what do you think about the offer? Would you buy the phone or you would rather wait for it to roll out through AT&T? Do you prefer the design of the GSM version to that of the two CDMA devices?
source: Negri Electronics

It might not be a Dior or even an Arrow shirt, but what cellphone fanatic wouldn’t want to own the latest in handset attire? We’re talking about the new DROID DOES t-shirts being given away by Verizon to selected owners of the world’s only Android 2.0 phone. It’s a win-win situation as you get a new shirt to add to your Three Stooges top and Big Red gets walking billboards. And assuming that those who bought the DROID hang out with similarly-minded individuals, the chances are that those who see you wearing it will also come up with the bread to buy their own unit. While Engadget says that Verizon is mailing the shirt to customers, a quick conversation with a rep yielded the info that it is the stores that are now in charge of handing out the shirts. So if you happen to be near your local Big Red store, see if you can score a DROID shirt for yourself.
source: EngadgetMobile

Oh, how these prototype models love to travel. Spotted in France, according to MobiFrance, is the HTC Rome. The Rome, with a trade name of the Touch.B, looks like your typical HTC Windows Mobile smartphone except that it is supposed to be powered by Android. Not much else is known about the handset, but MobiFrance says it will have more info on the phone tomorrow. While we haven’t seen much in the way of specs on this model, just knowing that HTC has an Android unit coming that resembles one of the Taiwanese firms’ Windows Mobile devices reminds us that the HTC Passion/Dragon should be close to getting introduced by Verizon. After all, the Passion/Dragon is supposed to be an Android powered version of the HTC HD2. For those who have Rip Van Winkled away the last few months, the HD2 is a Windows Mobile 6.5 handset with a massive 4.3 inch capacitive display sporting resolution of 480 X 800 pixels, the Sense UI, Wi-Fi and a 5MP camera all running on a zippy 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

So is there anything new on the HTC Passion/Dragon? According to a story in Android and Me, a web site with the URL htcpassion.com went live showing the Verizon logo followed by the word passion and then “coming holidays 2009″. However, it appears as though that image has been taken down, replaced by nothing but a blank page. A check to see who owns the domain shows a Westchester California address and a poster on the web site did a check of the address and it turned up to be a seedy looking storefront location. Some claim that the true owner of the site is hiding behind a third party to hide the real identity of the owner. Regardless, time is ticking away from Big Red if they truly are planning a mid-December launch of this highly anticipated Android version of the HD2.
source: MobiFrance (translated) via unwiredview, AndroidandMe (Passion)

*UPDATE*
A good hard look at the htcpassion.com web site does reveal a very hard to see Verizon “V” logo and the word Passion along with the line “coming holidays 2009″. It does require a long hard look, turning the lights off actually helps you see the image better. As for the question of who owns the domain name, it is being held by Whois Guard, a third party that is in business to hide the true identity of domain owners.

Yesterday Google updated Android´s official website, which immediately led to speculations that the change was due to the soon to come Android 2.1. According to AndroidandMe, the new OS edition will roll out at about the same time when the new terms and conditions for using Android Market become effective, i.e. from December 11 onwards. The rumor also has it that the Motorola DROID and HTC DROID ERIS will be among the first handsets to get updated to the new version of Android on the above-mentioned date.

But this is not all. There are also speculations that new functions are coming to the online application store at the same date – customers will be able to pay for purchased programs via their carrier as well as a software client that allows access from a normal computer.
source: AndroidandMe

Sometimes, you don’t need a piano to fall on your head to have a “Aha!” moment. Thanks to a clue left by Samsung itself, we can say with a fairly decent amount of certainty that the Behold II is heading over to Verizon. First, some background. After the original Behold failed to make waves as one of the first feature phones with a 5MP camera (it did spawn a decent 30 second commercial featuring The Blue Van’s “Silly Boy”), the Korean manufacturer re-designed the phone as a smart one with Android and was the first Android TouchWiz device with the 3D Cube Navigation. The handset is currently offered at T-Mobile but Samsung has left a major clue that Verizon will soon snag a CDMA version of the phone. On the product page on Samsung’s own web site is a picture of the 4 sides of the 3D cube and one of the sides shows the Verizon VCast logo! If you are a Big Red customer and have been wanting the Behold II, it looks like you won’t have to make the jump from the nation’s largest carrier to the fourth largest.

Heck, you might not even have to pay for the handset! Samsung is having a “Be a Winner” contest where a web site counts down the time until the next Behold II is given away. The carrier is giving one away every 60 minutes and winning is as easy as clicking this link and registering for the contest. If you win one, let us know.
source: AndroidandMe (Verizon), Samsung (contest)

The Motorola DROID has been selling like hotcakes, at least hotcakes with Android 2.0. According to RBC Capital Analyst Mark Sue, sales figures are showing a current total of 700,000 to 800,000 handsets sold which should allow for at least 1 million DROIDS crossing the register by the end of the year. A $100 million ad campaign helps, but so does the fact that the DROID is Verizon’s first real iPhone challenger.”Verizon’s big marketing push for the DROID is strengthening as we close in on the holidays,” the RBC analyst says. Comments by DROID users noted by Barron’s show praise for the resolution of the screen, which at 480 X 854 pixels, is currently the sharpest and clearest display out in the market, and for the fast processor. Complaints were made about the weight of the device, which is built like a tank, as some have described the model. The analyst also notes that sales of the Motorola CLIQ with the social networking MOTOBLUR UI and its overseas version, the DEXT, have been “okay”, but “not great”.

Oppenheimer analyst Ittai Kidron is a little more reserved. He estimates that sales of the world’s only Android 2.0 handset are running slightly behind target and he sees a total of 750,000 units sold for the quarter. He expects only 150,000-200,000 CLIQ handsets to be sold and says that T-Mobile has backed away from promoting the device. He also blames the battery life as a dealbreaker for purchase of the CLIQ and says that Motorola is preparing a upgrade to improve that. T-Mobile defends its promotion of the model as a spokesman for the carrier says that, “The Motorola CLIQ is very popular among our highly connected customers and is the only device with Motorola’s innovative MOTORBLUR solution. T-Mobile is excited about the Motorola CLIQ for the holidays and continues to showcase it prominently.” As for the manufacturer, Kidron says some models will be hits and some not, but that the Schaumburg based company is heading toward showing a profit in 2010.

Returning to the DROID, Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney says, “We are pleased with sales over the holiday weekend. This phone clearly fits the needs of a number of customers  who are excited about its availability on the Verizon Wireless network.” Are you a DROID owner? Still happy to be one? Let us know how you feel about Big Red’s honest-to-goodness, real iPhone challenger.
source: Barron’s, CNET

According to Gizmodo, a trusted source has actually seen the Google phone with his/her own eyes. According to the site, this is not just a Google branded phone running Android, but is Google branded hardware running a previously unseen version of Android. The Gizmodo source says that over the next few weeks, prototype versions of the Google phone will be seen all over the Mountain View campus, running on the Flan version of Android or a build beyond that. The source was able to view the higher build on a handset and on a laptop. Not only was the source assured that it was not Chrome that he/she was viewing, he/she was also told that the current version of Android in the marketplace is “not the real Android.” So what is the real Android and when will it be made public?
source: Gizmodo

When we last reported on the Motorola Calgary, we told you that the Schaumburg, Illinois based firm’s second branded Android device for Big Red would include MOTOBLUR and could possibly get launched in time for the holidays. For those waiting for the launch, it could be imminent now that some accessories for the device have been spotted on Verizon’s web site. The site shows a USB Data Cable for the A555 Calgary for $19.99.

The MOTOBLUR UI helps you keep track of your social networks by pushing information from them to your home page. The handset itself bears some resemblance to the DROID with a side sliding QWERTY keyboard. The latter does not have a D-pad so the letter tiles fill out the entire space. Three touch sensitive Android keys are at the bottom of the screen.and the camera will be a 3MP model. If there will be a late holiday shopping season push for the Calgary, we should expect to see an announcement soon that would include information on the specs that we don’t yet have.
Many Thanks to Jen!

With the open source nature of Android, certain apps that would never get past the eagle eyes of the Apple censor, can sail right through the Android Market. Case in point: MiKandi. The latter offers an app that connects an Android user to a site where X-rated pictures can be viewed, some from other developers looking to get paid for providing “content”. Not wanting to call it what it is-porn-the site refers to itself as “Adult only” and while the app works on Android powered handsets, it will not work on the iPhone. This is the unfortunate price that Google and Android carrying cell operators must pay in order to offer a totally free, open source system. It is a lose-lose situation for them. If they censor the material, they might lose the ability to call themself “open”. Let the site be offered on the Android Market and that invites the criticism and flak from those who are outraged at the nature of the business.

For the sake of research, the guys at Phandroid downloaded the app to check it out and found that nothing worked. After agreeing to the End User Agreement, a screen entitled “Staff Picks” was loaded revealing nothing but a blank page (and no, it wasn’t that they went blind) and other options, when pressed, would lead to a “forced close”. Phandroid closed by reminding everyone that downloading a site from an unknown party presents enough risk without then using the unknown party’s site as a gateway to other sites from more unknown parties which then raises the risk level sharply higher. Curiosity killed the cat and your phone does not have 9 lives, so keep that in mind.
source: Phandroid