Moto ZINE Leak

Motorola is planning a whole new line of phones in 2008 and will center this around one of the most advanced media phones to date, claim bloggers tapping sources at a Motorola Spain event. Called the ZINE line, the series will reportedly include at least two models next year and will include at least one phone based on the kick-slider design of the RIZR Z8. The handset would be based on the rumored Z10 (which is now pushed back to early 2008) but would have a slightly larger housing to accommodate a touchscreen along with the usual sliding keypad. It would also draw on new technology developed in tandem with Kodak to include an 8-megapixel camera and boast an extremely rare optical zoom lens.

This ZINE will also have GPS mapping and Wi-Fi, the tip says, though whether the slider will support HSPA Internet access or fully support US cellular bands. The device is due after summer, according to the report.

No details have been revealed of the second phone, though the Motorola contacts claim that there are no iPhone-like communicators in the work that would rely almost exclusively on touchscreen input for their control. The extent to which the touchscreen will be used on the first ZINE is unknown and may more closely resemble the RAZR2, which uses only a partial touchscreen for navigation.

By Electronista Staff