Motorola intros MOTO VE66 with widgets

Motorola on Tuesday officially confirmed its previously leaked upcoming handset, the MOTO VE66 slider phone, the first Motorola phone with widget integration, allowing users to access stock tickers, RSS feeds from blogs or sports scores, among other applications. The handset will also feature a 5-megapixel camera with integrated autofocus, an LED flash and auto stabilization functions. The phone will also have an HSDPA/UMTS radio for 3G cellular access in both Europe and North America along with a Wi-Fi module.

The phone will also feature the device maker's CrystalTalk technology that will reduce background noise and amplify conversations for clearer conversations. Two microphones also work together to eliminate unwanted noise. The handset doubles as a digital music player, with a USB 2.0 connection for transferring files onto it. It has dedicated music controls, and there is an integrated FM tuner with RDS. To navigate between the phone's many functions, Motorola included its FastScroll one-touch navigation wheel.

In conjunction with the announcement of the VE66, Motorola has announced its MOTODEV Widget Developer Challenge, calling out developers to create widgets for the new phone. The VE66 is expected to launch before the year is out, though pricing information and exactly which provider will carry it is not known.