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The Motorola Milestone 2 is now available SIM-free and on a contract from online retailers, although no network has yet announced availability of the phone.
The smart phone is the successor to the Milestone. It’s preloaded with Android 2.2, and packs a 3.7-inch touchscreen and a Qwerty keyboard. You can buy the Milestone 2 SIM-free for about £380 from a number of online retailers, such as Expansys.
None of the networks have announced the Milestone 2’s availability, which means you won’t be able to get the phone directly from them on a contract or as part of an upgrade. But online retailers are offering 18- to 24-month contracts with SIM-free versions of the phone.
The Milestone 2, along with the Defy, is the latest in Motorola’s line of Android handsets. The original Milestone was a well-received device, and Motorola hasn’t fiddled too much with that winning formula, besides making the keys bigger.
The Milestone 2 also has a 1GHz processor, which is faster than the original Milestone’s 600MHz chip. But the camera remains the same, offering a 5-megapixel resolution and 720p video-recording capability.
If you want a Motorola device that runs Android 2.2, then the Milestone 2 is currently your only option. The original Milestone is still awaiting an Android 2.2 upgrade. It should be ready before the end of 2010, although we’ve been saying that since August.
Judging by reader comments, there seems to be discontent with the way Motorola has treated its British and European smart-phone customers, as compared to their US cousins. Over here, the Dext is permanently stuck on Android 1.5, although the US version of the phone has moved on to Android 2.1.
Consequently, perhaps you shouldn’t count on the Milestone 2 getting an Android 2.3 Gingerbread update in the near future. The Motorola Olympus, due for release next year, may not have it either. Of course, you always have the option of rooting your phone.
