Motorolla rolls out a Dex-style desktop to the Edge Plus

Motorola is expanding its flagship handset, the Edge Plus, with a new desktop machine interface named Ready For. Ready For, like Samsung’s DeX, allows users to plug their smartphone into a larger screen (via a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to HDMI cable), allowing the Edge Plus (and potentially future Motorola phones) to be used as a device or even a set-top box option.

Ready For can be used in four different ways, according to the company. Users can turn the Edge Plus into a mobile desktop computer system, complete with a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard — similar to DeX.

However, Motorola has some more intriguing ideas about how to use Edge Plus. Another, for example, transforms the Edge Plus into a videoconference station, using the smartphone’s superior cameras (either the 108-megapixel main lens or the 16-megapixel ultrawide lens) for a better video chat experience. There are also opportunities for entertainment. Players can attach a controller to the Edge Plus and use it as a makeshift console for native mobile games like Fortnite or game-streaming services like xCloud. Users may also use their phone as a portable set-top box — Motorola envisions plugging the Edge Plus into a hotel room TV, for example, allowing you access to all your already logged-in streaming apps when traveling without having to think about your room’s Wi-Fi configuration.

Ready For (also known as DeX) is not the first effort to turn a smartphone into a device. The history of cell phones is riddled with unsuccessful attempts, such as the Palm Foleo or Motorola’s own Atrix 4G’s LapDock adapter. Although Motorola’s use cases are a little naive (and even too optimistic about the number of users who keep HDMI to USB-C cables on hand), there are definitely more innovative ideas for converting a phone to a larger screen than a half-baked desktop computer experience.

Motorola’s Ready For experience is scheduled to begin rolling out to Verizon Edge Plus users today.