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Motorola's Smart Rider Car Phone: Just In Case You Were Expecting a Call From 1992
Posted by Sean Fallon at 12:20 PM on April 4, 2008
An FCC leak back in February tipped us off to the fact that Motorola was prepping a car phone, but it wasn't until today that the details were announced. However, unlike the car phones of yesteryear, the Smart Rider features GPS navigation, voice activation and Bluetooth. But here is the kicker—you can use it outside of your car, which basically makes it just another mobile phone. Oh those Motorola execs with their marketing trickery! No wonder you guys are kicking so much ass. Available starting in June. Press release after the break.
Motorola Redefines Driving Experience with Smart Rider™ In-Vehicle Phone[Jalopnik]Fixed in-vehicle device improves enterprise solutions for professional drivers, with interactive voice activation, GPS services and more
CTIA WIRELESS 2008 - LAS VEGAS, Nev. - 1 April 2008 - Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced the debut of the Motorola Smart Rider™ phone, an innovative in-vehicle solution featuring GPS navigation, interactive voice activation, Bluetooth™ wireless technology and exceptional audio quality that's sure to make this phone an integral part of every driver's journey. A unique hands-free solution, the Smart Rider phone uses GSM technology to enhance user experience by ensuring that users can converse, navigate and tend to business while on-the-go.
The Smart Rider increases convenience and quality of communication:
* Bluetooth™ technology allows users to move freely from the home or office straight into the vehicle while having active calls, contact information and other personal data automatically transferred from the handset to the in-vehicle device
* Multiple user profiles grant secure access to personalised phonebook settings for up to three drivers on the Smart Rider phone
* Interactive voice activation makes the phone hassle-free for drivers
* A robust built-in microphone and speakerphone ensures an exceptionally clear, sharp sound.
The Smart Rider phone also offers feature-rich GPS services:* Turn-by-turn navigation and voice-guided driving instructions
* Precise on-screen directions and detailed maps on a 2.8" high resolution, sharp colour display
* Real-time traffic reports and automatic re-routing
* Enabling of location based services (LBS) and fleet management applications.
"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," said Golan Haver, business unit manager for Motorola Car Phones.Availability
The Smart Rider will be sold worldwide and will be available on the market in June 2008.
Tags: carphones | ctia | ctia 2008 | gps | mobile phones | motorola | phones
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Gary
Posted 12:58 PM 4/4/08
On a side note: what is going on with that dashboard? Anyone have a clue what kind of car looks like that?
As for the actual product, that divestiture of the handset division can't come quick enough.
Gary
digodemais
Posted 12:47 PM 4/4/08
Basically this gives them the excuse to concentrate on gps and have a shitty phone.
digodemais
DucatiGuy
Posted 12:41 PM 4/4/08
That's what I said Z(j)ack Morris... lol
DucatiGuy
One2ManyCords
Posted 12:39 PM 4/4/08
RIM Called...they want their pulsating, glowing clitball...i mean trackball back
One2ManyCords
strobefx
Posted 12:38 PM 4/4/08
You almost feel sorry for Motorola until they start pulling shit like this.
strobefx
FuzzysFriedChicken
Posted 12:37 PM 4/4/08
@DucatiGuy: Zack Morris?
FuzzysFriedChicken
JustEaton
Posted 12:37 PM 4/4/08
Hmm, where can I get a "mount" like that for my iPhone? Seriously though.
JustEaton
DucatiGuy
Posted 12:36 PM 4/4/08
Who's waiting in line for this, Jack Morris?
DucatiGuy
Altanader
Posted 12:25 PM 4/4/08
I MADE A BIKE PHONE!
Altanader
ninjatales
Posted 2:05 PM 4/4/08
It doesn't look too bad. But 2.8"??? My E61 has a 2.8 inch screen and it's got skinny bezels. Can't imagine how wide that thing's going to be in person.
ninjatales
jmckee
Posted 1:41 PM 4/4/08
This really isn't a bad product on paper, just one that the target audience here won't likely appreciate. It's for companies that manage fleets.
My company manages a small fleet of vehicles, we are constantly having to replace phones that employees have lost or broken, infact, replacing another phone is on my to do list for tomorrow, phones that they really only need when in the vehicle, plus pay for a second system permanently installed in our cars for tracking, vehicle maintenance, (Trimble, formally @road), etc.
If they price this competitively with enterprise fleet management solutions and add in the bonus of cellular functionality I bet it will do fine.
jmckee
xxGenericSNxx
Posted 1:38 PM 4/4/08
@Gary:
I think it's one of those Chevy/GM oversized vehicles type dashboard. I don't know what model, but it's the equivalently of the Ford Econoline.
I think 18 wheeler cab's interiors are a bit more harsh and have sharper lines.
xxGenericSNxx
Dook_In_The_Urinal
Posted 1:34 PM 4/4/08
@Gary:
Looks kinda like an 18 wheeler cab.
Dook_In_The_Urinal
Zadillo
Posted 4:38 PM 4/4/08
@JustEaton:
Check out proclipusa.com - the nice thing about what they offer is that you order a mounting bracket specifically designed for your car, and then you can order a device-specific mount for whatever you want that screws onto it.
I have one in my car for my old Treo 650 (haven't gotten around yet to ordering a new mount for my iPhone though), and it is definitely very well made.
Zadillo
altus
Posted 4:16 PM 4/4/08
Moto is on a suicidal track! Unbelievable! How about a nightstand phone.... How about a public phone? How about getting out of the phone business and returning the money to shareholders? Very sad!
altus
DrifterTypeR
Posted 4:52 PM 4/4/08
God, Moto is so fuckin' lame.
DrifterTypeR
poedgirl
Posted 4:49 PM 4/4/08
Too bad Smart Rider is already a trademark in Australia as a smart card ticketing system used by the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.
poedgirl
thebear91
Posted 6:22 PM 4/4/08
More than likely, the reason it is a "Car" thing is because the battery life sucked so bad that they decided to make it something that was plugged in most of the time.
thebear91
Serolf Divad
Posted 8:29 PM 4/4/08
I hope that thing has bitchin' voice prompts, because otherwise you're going to kill yourself trying to look at that postage stamp screen... seriusly, it's like a Quicktime movie from 1993.
Serolf Divad
strider_mt2k
Posted 10:15 PM 4/4/08
Screen too small.
Make it a 3.5" at the very least.
-and gimme text-to-speech, because anything less is bogus.
strider_mt2k
Aaron Stein
Posted 10:38 PM 4/4/08
the idea of a mount in the car so the phone integrates better is long overdue, but we like our phone variety too much.
Aaron Stein
xthemusicmanx
Posted 11:00 PM 4/4/08
@FuzzysFriedChicken: Isn't Jack his dad?
xthemusicmanx
zenpoet
Posted 12:39 AM 5/4/08
@Altanader: It had better not look anything like the jacket phone that I invented!
zenpoet
Cyborg28
Posted 1:36 AM 5/4/08
It's Moto Right? Don't they mean SMRT RIDR?
"I am so smart, S.M.R.T."
Cyborg28
Ashley927
Posted 7:15 AM 5/4/08
uggggly
Ashley927
Ashley927
Posted 7:14 AM 5/4/08
How lame. And ugly.
Ashley927
sublimnl
Posted 5:23 PM 8/4/08
@Ashley927: so hot. i didnt think they let your kind on gizmodo
sublimnl
DSCornell
Posted 3:36 PM 4/4/08
I actually need a product like this if it were a big iPhone, everyone including me would be applauding. When one is driving, a bigger screen and better speaker is a great advantage. I love Gizmodo and its edgy commentary but this is going to be popular with us older guys not minding a few extra dollars to have two phones and some convenience.
DSCornell