Motorola restates intentions to build more Webtop laptop docks for smartphones

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Reviewers and early adopters seemed to agree that Motorola’s Webtop laptop dock for the ATRIX 4G was both very nifty and very overpriced. At the same time, we were all intrigued when Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha said back in February that all of the company’s high-end smartphones would be compatible with the quirky Webtop laptop dock beginning later this year. Last week, Jha reiterated these intentions during the company’s earnings call, noting that the Webtop dock is one way Motorola will set itself apart from other manufacturers of Android-powered smartphones. “In the Android ecosystem, there is a need for us to differentiate,” Jha said. “[With] Atrix devices with the Webtop and lap-dock we really think there is an alternative way of viewing the convergence between mobility and computing. And we will continue to focus on that.” Jha continued, “You will see multiple devices from us in the second half… and we will expand the range of our lap-dock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both enterprise tiers as well as more consumer tiers.” That note about covering a range of price points may be the key factor here, and we’re anxious to see how Motorola will make this accessory more accessible while still refining the experience.

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19 Comments
  • http://twitter.com/hawaiiinsomniac hawaiiinsomniac

    Sorry Moto, you’re gonna have to build better mobile devices not better laptop add-ons to earn my trust back. :P

  • Anonymous

    Good luck with that, Moto.

  • http://www.facebook.com/matt.mingkee Matt Tsui

    I don’t think it will sell well.
    The dock interface runs on Ubuntu, so it may not be for everybody.

  • http://twitter.com/Haz3rd Mike C

    I can’t wait for this concept to reach it’s full potential. Pop your phone in a dock like that, boot up the OS of your choice and go. Obviously anyone on this site won’t use that as their main computer, but I think normal people would love that.

    Or maybe I’m just crazy.

    • Anonymous

      There is a reason why tablets are selling like hotcakes, and netbook sales are down 52%.

    • Anonymous

      Agreed. I think it’s a great idea. It’s just waiting for someone to get it right.

  • Anonymous

    Watching Motorola Mobility repeatedly make awful decisions is like watching the dumb blonde in a horror film weakly attempt to elude the ax-wielding, never-dying maniac.

    • Anonymous

      Or, like watching the iPhone 4 try to make a video call on FaceGriMe…

  • Scott

    With some refinement and more powerful CPU/GPUs, this could be a very sweet thing. But for it to be successful, they need to lower the price of the lap dock and not let carriers get too involved (I.E. letting AT&T charge tethering for using the lap dock).

  • Evan

    Lol. What problem is this trying to solve?

  • Supra984

    Hey, Zach, any opinions on Moto’s quality for this story? Will they build white laptop docs the same size as the black ones and will they be interchangeable? Ok, I’m done now.

    • Anonymous

      What an absolutely stupendous question!

      Bravo!!

      Well, Zach???

  • Anonymous

    Zach, shouldn’t the title read ‘Motorola reiTerates intentions to build more Webtop laptop docks for smartphones’?? Just sayin’….

  • Money

    does my laptop dockable device come w/ an unlocked bootloader?

    • Anonymous

      If anything, the exact opposite would be true as Motorola would need to force their Webtop compatibility to be on board for the Webtop to work.

  • http://twitter.com/EwanTouma Ewan Touma

    This webtop doesn’t even have a camera for god sakes. Shame on Motorola for not being able to make their battery, keyboard and screen-only laptop not thinner than the MacBook Air which is a full computer.

  • http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams

    Guh-guh-guh-gimmick!

  • Anonymous

    at least throw more stuff in there other than a screen keyboard and track pad, for $500 i might as well just buy a laptop

  • Anonymous

    The Foleo waa the precursor to Palm’s demise, will a similarly fated Webtop prove the same foreshadowing to Motorola Mobility?

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