Moto goes green with entry-level Renew phone

Set to debut this week at CES, the Renew might not pack the latest in multimedia features, but it's 100-percent recyclable and comes billed as the "world's first carbon-neutral phone." Plus: Moto's new "touch tablet," which might—or might not—be coming to the States.

On tap for T-Mobile subscribers in the first quarter (no pricing details yet), the Renew is as basic as they come—no camera, Wi-Fi, 3G, or even EDGE data access.

Instead, the Renew is Motorola's stab at an "environmentally responsible" handset. The phone's plastic shell is made of recycled water bottles and is "100 percent recyclable," according to Moto, while the Renew's recycled packaging includes a pre-paid envelope for recycling your old phone.

Motorola also promises to invest in "renewable energy sources and reforestation" to "offset the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate" the Renew—hence, the "carbon neutral" label.

Sounds responsible, all right—but as I mentioned before, we're not talking a lot of features here. The Renew does come with a WAP browser, a microSD memory slot, "Crystal Talk" technology for improved call quality, and a promised nine hours of talk time, but otherwise … that's about it. Let's hope for a cheap price tag.

Meanwhile, Moto has a couple other handsets up its sleeves: The Tundra, a ruggedized push-to-talk handset for AT&T (3G, GPS, available January 13 for $199 with a new two-year contract), and the MotoSurf, a Windows Mobile-powered "touch tablet" that, unfortunately, might not be coming to a carrier near you (if you live in the U.S., that is).

Boasting a 2.8-inch touchscreen (you can use your fingers, a stylus, or the trackball for navigation), 3G (HSDPA) data speeds, full-on calling features, Wi-Fi, and aGPS, the MotoSurf looks set to compete with HTC's Windows Mobile-powered Touch Diamond. I'm also told that the Surf will arrive with a custom interface that sits on top of Windows Mobile, complete with "widget-based carousel" that you can flick with your fingertip.

Other features on the MotoSurf: Stereo Bluetooth support, dual cameras (3MP and VGA), and a microSD memory slot.

OK—so why didn't I lead off with the MotoSurf, you ask? Well, Moto reps say the MotoSurf will arrive this quarter in Asia and Latin America, but as for North America—well, that's yet to be determined. Indeed, I can't even get a definitive "yes" or "no" on whether it'll arrive Stateside at all, so don't get too excited.