Gizmodo: car phone

A Glorious Beginning

matt buchanan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

This moment, a phone call from Chicago, marked the beginning of the cellphone era according to the New York Times. It's just as epic as you had imagined. [NYT]

Motorola's Smart Rider Car Phone: Just In Case You Were Expecting a Call From 1992

Sean Fallon — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:20:00 EDT

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 cellphone. 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
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 personalized 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 color 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.

[Jalopnik]

Leaked Motorola M990 GPS Phone is a Car Phone? Wha?

Jason Chen — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:10:02 EST

Unwired View points out the weirdness in this Motorola M990 Smart Rider GSM phone. Yes, it's got an integrated GPS, EDGE and quad-band GSM, but its description makes it seem like it's tailored for 1993, not 2008.

...with stylish and full features set, it is targeted to a broad band of markets looking for exclusivity like business men, limousines and private cars looking for stylish communication and navigation solution...

So it's a...car phone? [UnwiredView]

CarPhone Solves Wireless Calling in Car Without the Need for Bluetooth

Haroon Malik — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST

So, you love your phone and your car so much you want to create a hybrid, but you are not going to embark on your ultimate mod before seeing some proof that it is possible. Thanks to some fellow, who deemed it fit to create a car/phone hybrid some 25 years ago, your curiosities can be settled. Checkout his ridiculous CarPhone, complete with a matching/self-deprecating uniform, in the gallery below:

We do not know an awful lot about the machine itself. It seems it functions as a real vehicle, however the phone may or may not be functional. That is the deal breaker for us. Sure, you may say there was no deal to break, but we had our little hearts set on that being a functioning phone. Breaking our hearts is a deal breaker. Imagine making a call on that whilst you drive, now that really would be an impressive/hilarious feat! [Gizmo Watch]