Dual-display phone opens messages for others’ eyes

A new cell phone that displays text messages on its cover, as well as inside, aims to change the behavior of its users.
Motorola premiered the new phone, the Razr2 (Razr Squared), a clamshell type that has two displays, yesterday at an art gallery in Seoul.
Motorola Korea said the phone will be available next month and will be released in the U.S. in August.
The biggest new feature is the tandem display, which shows the same information on the cover of the phone and inside, meaning that it could make it harder for the user to keep text messages secret.
Motorola said that it hopes the new design will change cell phone etiquette, but it remains to be seen if users will want to share their display with the world.
“People have the tendency to break off the conversation to answer the phone, which is not good manners,” said Gill Hyun-chang, president of Motorola Korea. “The front display allows users to peek at text messages without having to actually open up their phone.”
Lee Ji-hyok, a product planning senior executive, joked, “My wife is so busy checking her text messages when I get home that she hardly looks up. Now it’s easier to see what kind of messages she’s getting.”
The new model is aimed at business people.

By Wohn Dong-hee Staff Writer [wohn@joongang.co.kr]