Hands on: MotoSurf touchscreen phone

Click for a larger image.

Tonight I got some one on one time with the just announced MotoSurf from Motorola. Lately, I’ve berated Moto for being slow in developing new, relevant devices. For example, Moto was proudly showing off the Aura $2k+ phone they announced just a couple of weeks ago, plueeez! Earlier this week, I noted interest in this phone destined only for Asia and Latin America and after playing with it, it still holds my interest.

Thoughts after holding the phone

The phone is quite light. The parts that look like metal are all plastic. While this makes for a light phone, it also reduces a solid feel in the hand. And it is real small.

The phone runs Windows 6.1 but is skinned to make the user experience better than your average unskinned WinMo smartphone. The skin wasn’t real thick but seemed to be responsive.

Currently all the applications are written by Motorola for the phone. The company spokesperson could not comment on if an SDK was in the works, though I think not.

As I said earlier in the week, Moto isn’t so sure about this phone. Not launching in the US market is proof positive of this position. The rep was careful to point out she could not comment on a US release.

I mean, come on, the phone has a stylus, need I say more?

That said, I’d like to see where Moto takes this and where it is priced at, pricing for Asia and Latin America is not available yet.

My earlier post [Gadgetell]