New Motorola Sholes images surface

The Android-powered Motorola Sholes handset, AKA Tao has appeared on the internet.

The images are the first to show the 3.7-inch touchscreen-equipped device running the Google Android operating system.

Forum member wmrussell kindly posted the pictures over at HowardForums.com, and they clearly show the Sholes' angular design as well as the tweaked Android UI - although none of them show the sliding Qwerty that we know is nestled away.

There has been no official word regarding the Sholes from Motorola but highlights of the device include a 3.7-inch (480x854 pixel resolution) touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera autofocus camera, A-GPS, and HSDPA connectivity.

Now, we don't normally place much credence with random forum postings but several commentators seem to have been privy to a little hands-on time with the Sholes, and all the recent information suggests that it will be the first phone to launch running the Android v.2 OS, known as Eclair.

Release dates, carriers and pricing are unknown for the UK, but it will be launching in the US on the Verizon network.