Motorola Ming

The Motorola A1200, better known as the Motorola MING, is the latest Linux-based smartphone from Motorola. With a very attractive transparent flip design, 2.0 megapixel camera, and a handy business card reader feature, the MING is indeed a very capable phone on paper, but does it deliver?

Physical Aspects

The MING features sleek curves and clean lines throughout its design. Apart from the transparent flip, the phone is encased entirely in a soft touch rubber compound. Frequent readers of the site will know how much we love this material on our phones, as it not only gives us good grip but makes our phones more scratch resistant as well. With chromed plastic linings on the hinge and sides, the MING looks all class and ready for business. It is solidly built, with a battery cover that attaches firmly to the back of the phone.

On the front, the transparent cover houses the Motorola emblem and the back of the earpiece, which is coated in chrome. On the back of the device, the camera lens is enveloped in chrome. The macro mode switch just above the lens is a pin sized piece of black plastic, and I worry that it could break after extended usage. The stylus silo is located at the back of the phone to the left of the camera lens. I like the feel of the MING's stylus; it has the appropriate weight and the length is just about right. The loudspeaker is located on the lower part of the back of the phone.

On the right of the phone, the dedicated camera key is located alongside the voice recognition key. The miniUSB port is located lower down this side of the MING. To the left, the volume keys flank the shortcut key, which also works as the select key when accessing the few menus available with the flip closed. The headset jack is found just below the shortcut key. Both the miniUSB port and headset jack are protected by rubber flaps to keep out dust.

Flipping open the MING, the QVGA screen takes up most of the front of the device. You will find the 5-way navigational joystick between the call and end keys below the screen. Motorola has attached the earpiece to the transparent cover, running two very thin wires up either side of the flip, making something very plain and boring into a design element. Unfortunately, the transparent cover is very easily scratched, and our review unit has already suffered from this. Users of the MING might want to invest in a good pouch to protect their phone.

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