Motorola Seeks Android DevelopersMotorola Seeks Android Developers

Motorola has been pressing hard to get developers to create content specifically for its upcoming line of Android devices.

The world's fourth-largest cell phone maker has been sputtering lately, as it is recording massive losses, cutting thousands of jobs, and seeing embarrassing court disputes with former employees. One of the main issues for Motorola is that it has never been able to come up with successful follow-ups to the extremely popular Razr handset.

Co-CEO Sanjay Jha has placed large bets that the Google-backed Android operating system can help the company rebound, and Motorola has been blogging and hosting meet-ups to woo developers. Motorola said it will help content creators distribute their apps through the Android Market, direct sales, third-party stores, and it could also preload some apps on their Android phones. The company said it will release a custom Android-specific software development kit later this year.

The company has not officially introduced any Android devices yet, but it said it will have multiple handsets that cater to casual and enterprise users. Motorola said some handsets will be focused on multimedia and messages, and the devices will range from mid-range to high-end.

Motorola hasn't announced when its handsets will be released, but one is expected to be available by the end of the year. The company will be facing some stiff competition though, as Google expects at least 18 handset manufacturers to release an Android phone this year. By establishing a tight relationship with app creators, Motorola is trying to differentiate itself from the likes of HTC, Samsung, and other Android phone makers.

information has published a 360-degree analysis of the first Android-based smartphone. Download the report here (registration required).