Motorola A780

MontaVista Linux has been used successfully in Motorola A780, the previous versions of this phone a768, a768i lacked of software availability as compaired it Symbian OS. This version of the phone comes (at least in Europe) with a GPS software, the handsets will include ALK Technologies' CoPilot Live navigation software and Navteq 'street and places-of-interest' maps for European countries, installed on a memory card.

The Motorola E680 and A780 phones are built using Trolltech's Qt/Embedded technology, part of Trolltech's product line for Linux-based mobile devices.

Design

The Motorola A780 is a Linux-based flip phone. When the flip is closed, the phone appears like a traditional candybar phone, with a keypad matrix and small display, actually a window to the larger display below the flip. When the flip is open, a quarter VGA touch screen is revealed that can be used with fingers or a supplied stylus. User interface Left side: up-down-select rocker, voice record button, release for battery cover Right side: camera button Back: Camera lense, vanity mirror, stylus compartment Top: cover for micro-SD slot Bottom: cover for mini-USB (charge and communications) and 2.5 mm 4-pole headphone jack Battery compartment: 4-pole 3.6 V Li-Ion, SIM On flip: send button, clear button, end button, 12-key matrix, earpiece, illumination Front: microphone, Power button, five-way joystick, illuminated home button Additional sound: vibrate, ringer Radio: Bluetooth, 850/900/1800/1900 GSM-EDGE (world frequencies) FCC ID: IHDT56ED1

A780 with closed flip

A780 with flip open

Side view

Communication Features

1. Messaging
   1. POP E-Mail, Multi-media, and text messaging
2. PIM Sync options
   1. Over-the-Air Microsoft Exchange (AUTD) for Contacts, Calendar and E-mail
      • No tasks
   2. Over-the-air SyncML for Contacts, Calendar, Tasks
   3. Proprietary Bluetooth or USB to desktop computer
3. Web browser Opera 7.50
   Five windows, XHTML, JavaScript, full-screen, zoom 20% to 300%
   • No page overview, or facsimile history like Nokia E61 using Web Browser for S60
4. Call recording

Data connections

1. WAN EGPRS (4 time slots down, 2 up, unknown coding scheme)
   measured Cingular 23 kb/s, T-Mobile USA 24 kb/s (extremeley slow)
2. Full Speed USB (typical 6.8 Mb/s)

A780 does not come with

1. Qwerty keyboard
   • Awkward on-screen stylus keyboard
2. Wi-Fi
3. Infrared
4. US navigation
5. Unstable operating system
6. Hi-Speed USB (480 Mb/s)
7. EDGE (Mototrola are liars, liars and damned liars, there is an E in the display and EDGE mentioned in the user's manual, just no edge in he phone)

See also

• Motorola
• List of Motorola products
• List of mobile phones running Linux

External Links

• OpenEZX Project Gathers information on Motorola's Linux-based phones
• A780 entry in the OpenEZX Wiki A780 Hardware details