Motorola's update to the business-focused Q9h is the supposedly more affordable Q11, a smartphone that appears to reduce functionality in core areas like network capability and video capture rates while offering minor updates in others. Equipped only with EDGE and Wi-Fi, the Q 11 appears to eschew the HSDPA connectivity that was standard on its predecessor, instead relying on Boingo Mobile for speedy international internet access. While Boingo does have a large network of access points, most of these are located in restaurants, hotels, etc. such that travelers not near one of these institutions will be forced back onto slower EDGE transfer speeds. 

Perhaps acceptable because this is a business-oriented phone, the latest Q drops video rates from 30 frames per second to 15 frames per second, though it does increase the camera's resolution from two to three megapixels (which best BlackBerry's Curve by a megapixel) and allow for up to 32GB (up from 2GB) of storage via an SD card slot. Like its predecessor, the new device offers roughly the same video playback, messaging and audio options, though it supports ActiveSync push email now. While the previous Q was criticized for poor battery life, the Q 11 doesn't seem to change much with its seven hours of talk time and reduced 195 hours standby time.

Said to be aimed squarely at the non-US BlackBerry Bold that offers 3G and Wi-Fi and a significantly larger screen, the lack of support for a high-speed non-Wi-Fi network and commitment to a small 2.4-inch display is puzzling, though perhaps the lower pricepoint will balance some of the device.