Motorola Developing Android-based Social Networking Phone?

It seems Motorola is really serious about this whole Android thing. Recent reports showed that the company was looking to put together an Android team of upwards of 300 people. This week, reports suggest the company is developing a social networking phone based on Google’s mobile OS.

A couple of weeks back, an Android developer claiming to have been approached by a headhunter from Motorola said the headcount for the company’s Android team had reached 50 people and was expected to continue growing until it hit 350. The announcement wasn’t too much of a surprise as Motorola is a key member of the Open Handset Alliance, the main supporter of Android. Later that week, the cell phone manufacturer confirmed the reports saying the company was excited about the innovation possibilities on Android. Innovation is right, it looks like the company is developing a phone targeted at social networking fiends.

According to AndroidGuys, a post on Coroflot.com, a site advertising design jobs and portfolios, details a position on Motorola’s Interaction Design team and the input such a person would have into concept and design of the company’s mobile products, including Motorola’s new Android Social Networking SmartPhone.

“As a Senior Staff Interaction Designer, you will be responsible for leading and actively participating in the concept, design, documentation and development of user interfaces for our mobile products including our new Android Social Networking SmartPhone. You’ll lead brainstorming and work sessions, usability and innovation reviews and other forums of design development. In addition to your primary responsibility in the delivery of great design, you will also be expected to mentor other designers, bringing your personal strengths to the rest of the team.”

While we’re not about to spout off about the concept of a social networking smartphone before Motorola offers more information, we’re wary of this idea. A smartphone is designed to incorporate all kinds of tools into one device, email, SMS, mobile internet to name a few. The kind of connectivity available to users with a social networking phone would be very attractive, however by marketing it as a social networking phone and narrowing down its target market, Motorola won’t do itself any favours. Especially in an industry that’s seeing more and more smartphones aimed at business and pleasure by the day.