14 DAY TRIAL // Motorola officially announced, during CTIA Wireless 2008, a quite unusual, new device. Named Motorola Smart Rider, the new Moto is presented as "an innovative in-vehicle solution" and it's a handset that can be used both as a normal mobile phone and as an in-car device, being packed with several advanced features.
The device was first seen back in February this year, after it was approved by FCC, and now its existence is finally confirmed by the American company.
Far from being what we'd call a sleek handset, Motorola Smart Rider comes with built-in GPS, offering voice guided and turn-by-turn driving instructions, detailed maps, location based services, re-routing and real-time traffic info. Furthermore, the handset (or should we call it "carset"?) brings a 2.8 inch display to make sure you see everything properly, Bluetooth connectivity for easy data transfers, interactive voice activation, high-quality microphone and speakerphone, plus multiple user profiles for up to three different users.
For a device to be used mainly in your car, Smart Rider's features are quite good. You can also use the handset outside the car, although it doesn't look like an every-day mobile phone.
Golan Haver, business unit manager for Motorola Car Phones, said about the new device: "The Smart Rider is the next generation in-vehicle phone, designed to operate in unison with the user's daily needs and environment. The phone re-defines what communication on-the-go is all about, and the main focus was placed on transforming the user experience. We are confident that the worldwide success of this flagship product will speak for itself."
Moto's Smart Rider will be available world-wide starting June 2008. No pricing details yet, but those who might want to buy the car-handset should expect to pay a lot of money for it.