Skip the navigation
News

CES: Motorola to offer phone made from recycled plastic bottles

'Touch tablet,' flip phone, rechargeable TV remote and femtocell in a picture frame also to be shown

By Matt Hamblen
January 6, 2009 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Motorola Inc. is still in the midst of plans to spin off its mobile handset division in 2010, but will show off a new cell phone made from recycled plastic water bottles at the Consumer Electronics Show later this week.

The Moto W233 Renew is described by Motorola as the "world's first carbon neutral mobile phone." Because it is based on recycled plastics, Motorola said today that 20% less energy is needed to produce the phone, compared to the standard plastic process.

To further the green theme, the Renew will come to customers in a box that is reduced in size, and with brochures printed using vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

The Moto W233 Renew
The Moto W233 Renew cell phone is made from recycled plastic. (Photo courtesy of Motorola)
The conservation theme carries over to the phone itself, with up to nine hours of talk time, meaning users can talk more, charge less and reduce energy usage, Motorola said. Details about pricing, availability, carriers and device specifications were not immediately available. The device was shown in a greenish-yellow skin.

Motorola will also present the Motosurf A3100, a mobile device it describes as a "touch tablet" to be used for data access over HSPA and Wi-Fi wireless networks. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1.

It also has a flip phone, the Motorola Tundra VA76r, that provides push-to-talk capabilities for workforces. The phone will run on AT&T Mobility networks. Others details on the Motosurf and Tundra were not immediately available.

Among other products, Motorola's home and networks division will show a femtocell that CES officials are honoring for innovative furniture design. The KeepMeConnected Femtocells CDMA 9100 Series is a low-cost wireless access point, but unusual because of its touch screen inside a digital picture frame. It will be available from carriers this year and will provide a voice-over-Internet soft phone, a spokesman said.

Motorola is also showing what many TV watchers have been begging for since the invention of the remote control device. The remote, to be available through IPTV carriers this year, is rechargeable and includes a feature similar to the infamous "Clapper" device, allowing a user to find it when lost.

The remote control sits in a base station powered by a wall socket or a USB connection to a set-top device. The base station provides recharging, and also has a switch that triggers an audio tone and flashing lights on the missing remote.

Motorola is also showing a home network device with a WiMax modem and a Wi-Fi router combined. Called the wi4 WiMax CPEi775, it will be available through service providers later this year, Motorola said.

Read more about Mobile and Wireless in Computerworld's Mobile and Wireless Topic Center.



Additional Resources
Forrester Consulting - Optimizing Users and Applications in a Mobile World
WHITE PAPER
Solving application issues over the WAN requires careful consideration. Based on their independent research, Forrester Consulting offers recommendations on how to tackle application performance issues, insufficient bandwidth and the inability to quickly restore users in a disaster.

Read now.

Security KnowledgeVault
WHITE PAPER
Security is not an option. This KnowledgeVault Series offers professional advice how to be proactive in the fight against cybercrimes and multi-layered security threats; how to adopt a holistic approach to protecting and managing data; and how to hire a qualified security assessor. Make security your Number 1 priority.

Read now.

Cut Communications Costs Once and for All
WHITE PAPER
New IP-based communications systems are being deployed by small and midsized businesses at a rapid rate. Learn how these organizations are enabling faster responsiveness, creating better customer experiences, speeding office or mobile interactions, and dramatically reducing existing communications costs.

Read now.

Mobile and Wireless White Papers
Digital Transformation: Creating New Business Models Where Digital Meets Physical
Individuals and businesses alike are embracing the digital revolution. Social networks and digital devices are being used to engage government, businesses and civil...
Empowering Your Mobile Worker
Today's most productive employees are mobile, and your company's IT strategy must be ready to support them with 24/7 access to the business...
An Interactive Guide: Bring Your Own Device
BYOD presents significant security and management challenges to IT departments who want to take advantage of the trend, but still protect corporate assets....
Calculating ROI for Mobile Client Acceleration
As mobile devices continue to expand in business use, ensuring these devices have optimal performance is becoming an IT imperative. This EMA paper...
Tablet Computing Without Compromise
This paper provides an overview of how and why that migration-from any old tablet to Windows tablets-came to be.
All Mobile and Wireless White Papers
Mobile and Wireless Webcasts
Live Webcast
North Pole to South Seas: Overcoming the Pitfalls of remote Performance
In today's always-on world, connectivity is a business requirement. You need the tools that allow you to operate as if you were on...
Supporting Mobile Productivity With A Limited IT Budget
Join us and hear from Kaseya mobile IT management experts as we discuss core strategies for supporting the mobile revolution on a shoestring...
North Pole to South Seas: Overcoming the Pitfalls of remote Performance
In today's always-on world, connectivity is a business requirement. You need the tools that allow you to operate as if you were on...
Unified Communications 101
What's the best way to implement a unified communications solution for your organization?
QNX® and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ Tablet.
RIM's multi-processor, multi-tasking BlackBerry PlayBook runs a new Tablet OS powered by QNX, a bullet-proof microkernel operating system. This track will take a...
A Close Look at Tablets
Learn More
All Mobile and Wireless Webcasts
Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter
  1. View all newsletters | Privacy Policy
IT Jobs