X

Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan. Here's how it stacks up.
By Andrew Nusca, Contributor
310891.jpg
1 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
Here's the Motorola Rival with its box.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310892.jpg
2 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The Motorola Rival, extended.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310893.jpg
3 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The home screen.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310894.jpg
4 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The Rival booting up.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310895.jpg
5 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The primary menu. I liked the stacked iPhone feel of it, but had a hard time keeping my inclinations to touch or swipe the screen under control.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310896.jpg
6 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The primary menu, slightly closer.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310899.jpg
7 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
The primary menu in landscape mode.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310900.jpg
8 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
A text message in progress, in landscape mode.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310901.jpg
9 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
Touch dialing in portrait mode.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310902.jpg
10 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
Taking a picture.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone
310903.jpg
11 of 11 Andrew Nusca/ZDNET
Mobile web browser.

Motorola has announced its Rival mobile messaging phone, which packs a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen elements and visual voicemail. The Moto folks were kind enough to let me play with the new device, which I believe is a nice solution for someone who wants a smartphone but doesn't want to pony up the dough for a data plan.

Read the original post Hands-on with the Motorola Rival messaging phone

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos