# Motorola Photon

> Motorola smartphone

**Wikidata**: [Q4143058](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4143058)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Photon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/motorola-photon

## Summary  
The Motorola Photon is a smartphone model manufactured by Motorola that runs the Android operating system. It belongs to the smartphone model class, features a phone‑style connector, and was succeeded by the Motorola Photon Q.

## Key Facts  
- **Manufacturer:** Motorola — the device is produced by the well‑known mobile‑phone maker.  
- **Device class:** Smartphone model; it is a subclass of the broader “smartphone” category.  
- **Operating system:** Android, the mobile OS originally released on 23 September 2008.  
- **Successor:** The Motorola Photon Q follows the Photon in Motorola’s product line.  
- **Connector type:** Uses a standard phone connector for charging and data transfer.  
- **Official website:** <http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/MOTOROLA-PHOTON-4G-US-EN>.  
- **Image reference:** A representative photo is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Motorola_Photon_4G_(250).jpg.  
- **Alternative names:** Also known as “MOTOROLA PHOTON” and the Korean “모토로라 일렉트리파이”.  
- **Freebase identifier:** /m/0h3n260.  
- **Wikidata description:** “Motorola smartphone”.

## FAQs  
### Q: What operating system does the Motorola Photon use?  
**A:** The Motorola Photon runs Android, Google’s mobile operating system first released on 23 September 2008.  

### Q: Who manufactured the Motorola Photon?  
**A:** The device was manufactured by Motorola, a major producer of mobile phones and communication equipment.  

### Q: What model succeeded the Motorola Photon?  
**A:** The Motorola Photon Q is listed as the direct successor to the Motorola Photon.  

### Q: Does the Motorola Photon support 4G connectivity?  
**A:** Yes; the device is referenced in the “Motorola Photon 4G” Commons category, indicating 4G capability.  

### Q: Where can I find official information about the Motorola Photon?  
**A:** Motorola’s official product page (linked above) provides specifications and support details for the Photon.

## Why It Matters  
The Motorola Photon represents an early integration of Google’s Android platform into Motorola’s hardware ecosystem, helping to broaden consumer access to a flexible, app‑driven mobile experience. By adopting Android, Motorola positioned the Photon as a competitor to other smartphones that were transitioning away from proprietary operating systems toward open, Google‑backed software. This shift contributed to the rapid expansion of the Android market share, encouraging a more diverse app ecosystem and fostering competition that drove innovation in device design, connectivity (including 4G support), and user interface customization. For users and developers alike, the Photon served as a reference point for how traditional handset manufacturers could leverage Android to deliver modern, network‑capable smartphones.

## Notable For  
- **Android adoption:** One of Motorola’s early Android‑based smartphones, showcasing the OS’s versatility.  
- **4G capability:** Classified under “Motorola Photon 4G,” indicating support for high‑speed mobile data.  
- **Successor lineage:** Directly followed by the Motorola Photon Q, marking a clear product evolution.  
- **Standard connector:** Utilizes a conventional phone connector, simplifying charging and data sync.  
- **Multilingual presence:** Documented across several Wikipedia language editions (Arabic, Azerbaijani, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, etc.), reflecting global relevance.

## Body  

### Overview  
The Motorola Photon is a mobile phone that falls under the “smartphone model” class. It is produced by Motorola and is part of the broader smartphone subclass. The device is identified on Wikidata with the description “Motorola smartphone” and carries the Freebase ID /m/0h3n260.

### Hardware  
- **Connector:** Equipped with a standard phone connector for power and data.  
- **Display & Design:** Visual references show a typical slate‑style form factor common to smartphones of its era.  
- **Network support:** Listed in the “Motorola Photon 4G” Commons category, indicating 4G LTE capability.

### Software  
- **Operating System:** Runs Android, the open‑source mobile OS created by Google. Android’s initial release date is 23 September 2008, establishing the platform on which the Photon operates.  

### Connectivity & Services  
- **Web presence:** Motorola maintained an official product page (URL provided above) that offered specifications, support resources, and marketing information.  
- **Successor model:** The Motorola Photon Q is documented as the follow‑up device, suggesting continuity in design philosophy and software updates.

### Legacy & Impact  
The Photon’s integration of Android helped Motorola transition from legacy operating systems to a modern, app‑centric environment. Its 4G capability placed it among the early adopters of high‑speed mobile broadband, contributing to the broader consumer shift toward data‑intensive applications and services. The device’s documentation across multiple languages and its inclusion in major knowledge bases (Wikidata, Wikipedia, Freebase) underscore its relevance in the historical timeline of Android smartphones.

## References

1. Quora