Verizon announces the Motorola Citrus (updated with key features)

Top-end world phone Droids weren't the only thing Verizon told us about today, also unveiling the Motorola Citrus, an entry-level, non-Droid-branded Android handset.  By the looks of it, Bing is along for the ride, as well as full-tilt Motoblur.  Once again, Verizon isn't saying much yet:

Motorola CITRUS™ is powered by Android™ 2.1 and delivers an affordable, entry-level, customizable smartphone experience in a compact design that is easy on both the eyes and the earth.

This one should attract the tweens and feature phone users to Android, and looks like what we've come to expect from the bottom end of Android devices.  Which isn;t completely a bad thing.  While we all wait for more info, fell free to hang in the Citrus forums and discuss.

Update: The official press announcement is after the break.  The short version -- no full specs, but "key features and specifications" are listed, and availability is Q4.

SAN FRANCISCO,Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- From CTIA Enterprise & Applications(TM) 2010,Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation's largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today unveiled Motorola CITRUS(TM). Powered by Android(TM) 2.1, Motorola CITRUS delivers an affordable, entry-level, customizable smartphone experience in a compact design that is easy on both the eyes and the earth.

Key features and specifications:

-- Curved design
-- Easy-to-use, on-screen QWERTY keyboard (available in landscape and
portrait modes) for quick messaging
-- Full HTML Web browser -- Preloaded with Bing Search and Bing Maps and
delivers a PC-like Web browsing experience with quick access to Web apps
and services such as Facebook®; Google services such as Gmail(TM),
Google Talk(TM) and YouTube(TM)
-- Equipped with BACKTRACK(TM), a touch panel located on the back of the
device that enables users to navigate and scroll through websites, home
screens, e-mails, music and more without obstructing the display
-- Full capacitive touch screen display delivers fluid flick, swipe and
pinch-to-zoom navigation
-- Seven home screen panels that can be tailored with an array of available
shortcuts; applications; and pre-loaded widgets such as sticky notes,
weather, messages and calendar
-- Android Market(TM) -- Choose from thousands of downloadable apps, many
of which are free
-- CITRUS has a housing made from 25 percent post-consumer recycled
plastic, is certified CarbonFree® through an alliance with
Carbonfund.org, and is PVC and BFR free. The packaging is made from 80
percent post-consumer recycled paper, and the user manual is made using
100 percent recycled paper and soy-based ink.

Pricing and availability:
-- Motorola CITRUS will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in
Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in Q4 2010.
-- For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit
a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to
www.verizonwireless.com.

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