Motorola launches Smart Rider at CTIA

By Wayne Cunningham on 04 April 2008

Tags: car | gps | mobile phone | motorola | navigation | rider | smart

Smart Rider combines the features of a phone and portable GPS device

Motorola broke a few molds when it announced the Smart Rider at CTIA this week.

Smart Rider is a cross between a phone and a portable GPS device, using a 2.8 inch high-resolution screen for map display and turn-by-turn directions. It also features voice commands and Bluetooth hands-free calling.

Although the press release is a little short on details, it seems to say that you can pair your phone with the Smart Rider, and transfer contact information. But Smart Rider also has its own GSM connection, so presumably it would have its own phone number, and its cellular connection would be used to download maps as needed. It also features live traffic and local search, services that would also come over a cellular connection. Smart Rider will be available in June, 2008.

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