Photos: Motorola Rizr Z6, Rokr E6, Motofone and Maxx

After launching the Motorola Razr V3x, it seemed like Motorola was resting on its laurels. While other mobile phone manufacturers made hundreds of handsets, Motorola just made a few. Fortunately, it wasn't sitting around doing nothing, it was working hard creating a whole bunch of new handsets, most of which are being displayed here at CES.

The Motorola Rizr Z6 (pictured) music phone looks very similar to the Rizr Z3 but has a shiny black casing. More importantly, it runs a Linux-based operating system and also features Windows Media Player 11, which supports Windows WMA v10 plus Janus DRM, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ enhanced, AMR NB, WAV and XMF.

Other features include a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, a dedicated music key on the front and an expandable microSD slot. Our first impressions are positive -- the Z6 looks and feels good and we particularly like the look of the new casing. We'll need to spend more time with it, though, to see what the new Linux OS is really like.

Next in the long line-up of Motorola's new kit is the Rokr E6. It officially launched late last year but this is the first time we've seen it in the flesh. It's a PDA-style phone that also runs a Linux-based OS and has a large colour touchscreen. The new menu looks great and you can interact with it using a stylus that's held in the back of the phone.

Like the Z6, it can play a variety of music formats and you can listen to music wirelessly using stereo Bluetooth headphones. You can also use your own headphones because there's a 3.5mm jack on the top. There's a 2-megapixel camera on the back of the E6 and you can store all your music and photos on an SD card.

Impressively, the E6 only measures 15mm thick and we look forward to getting one in so that we can take a proper look at it. The only problem is that Motorola can't confirm whether the device will ever come to the UK, but we'll let you know if we get any more information on availability.

Next up is the Motofone. It was created for emerging markets such as Africa and parts of Asia, but is definitely worth a mention. With simplicity at the heart of the Motofone's design, this phone is an inspiring move for those who worry that mobile phones are getting too complicated. It uses a high-contrast black-and-white screen that's easier to read than a colour screen and also consumes less power.

The Motofone is also thin and light, making it easy to carry it about. This is a brilliant phone for anyone who just wants the absolute basics and good battery life.

Update: A full review of the Motorola Motofone F3 is now live.

The Razr Maxx is based on the V3x but is about the same size as the original Razr V3, making it much more pocket-friendly. You can make video calls on it and there's a 2-megapixel camera, but the most impressive feature is the HSDPA connectivity that lets you download mobile content and browse the Web at speeds similar to your broadband connection at home. You can also connect it to your laptop and use it as a portable modem.

The Maxx also has three touch-sensitive music buttons on the front for controlling the MP3 player, and an expandable microSD slot so that you can store all your favourite photos and music. If you're looking for a decent all-rounder, the Maxx is definitely worth considering. -AL