Apple to bring iTunes to Motorola mobile phones
updated 09:30 pm EDT, Mon July 26, 2004
iTunes on Motorola phones
Motorola and Apple today announced they are partnering to enable millions of music lovers to transfer their favorite songs from the iTunes jukebox on their PC or Mac, including songs from the iTunes Music Store, to Motorola's next-generation "always with you" mobile handsets, via a USB or Bluetooth connection. Apple will create a new iTunes mobile music player, which Motorola will make the standard music application on all its mass-market music phones. It is expected to be available in the first half of next year.
"We can't think of a more natural partnership than this one with Apple, the brand synonymous with easy-to-use, legal music downloading, and Motorola, the innovator in mobile technology," said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO, Motorola. "Being able to transfer songs you've purchased from iTunes to Motorola mobile handsets expands the market reach for both of us and drives new revenue for customers, delivering an amazing music experience to millions of wireless users."
"We are thrilled to be working with Motorola to enable millions of music lovers to transfer any of their favorite songs from iTunes on their PC or Mac to Motorola's next-generation mobile phones," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The mobile phone market--with 1.5 billion subscribers expected worldwide by the end of 2004--is a phenomenal opportunity to get iTunes in the hands of even more music lovers around the world and we think Motorola is the ideal partner to kick this off."
Steve Jobs made the announcement via video conference at an event the night before Motorola's annual analyst meeting in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.
Coolness
07/26, 09:39pm reply
Apple out thinks the competition again.
koolkid1976
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
Steve working w/Motorola?
07/26, 09:49pm reply
h*** must have fozen over, right after it broke loose!
Well if we're lucky, the phones will be just about able to play songs encoded at 8Kbps speed. Of course when doing this the phones will be running hot as h*** and you won't be able to hold or carry one... but don't worry, the next generation of phones will be able to play 9Kbps songs and will only be about 20 degrees hotter than the current ones when playing songs.
Sebastien
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2000
Partnerships...
07/26, 09:54pm reply
I wonder when the competition is going to copy this and who they will partner with?
djcobb44
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2001
Re: Partnerships...
07/26, 10:20pm reply
Real Networks will announce that they've partnered with 'Bob's Cellphone mart'. No one will care, and then Rob Glaser will beg Steve (again) to let Real play music on Moto phones.
And the cycle begins anew...
macnut222
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Joined: Oct 2002
Nextel? I hope so
07/26, 10:25pm reply
Since its Moto I hope they port to this to the Nextel phones.
Good stuff!
83caddy16v
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2000
Great Move
07/26, 10:45pm reply
I think the cell phone is the convergence target. A little more flash and bingo you have enough for itunes. audio on demand is doable on a cell phone. video on demand for a cell phone would be tough because storage is not there...
Very ironic that Real has to get all focused on ipod and put all their efforts into a hack. Real does not see the market for its opportunities. There are more cell phones out there than pcs or ipods. Lets tap that market.
Great going Apple.
Jablabla
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2000
iPhunes-so what?
07/26, 10:47pm reply
the integration of iTunes and your cell phone will usher in a new paradigm of communications technology—a high-fidelity jukebox integrated with a cellular phone that STILL doesn't work half the time.
BobbyG
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 1999
uh, for Real?
07/27, 12:05am reply
heh. I've got RealPlayer on my Nokia 3650. Had it for over a year now. I've been able to play low bandwidth streaming video all that time.
It's more useful though for playing Seinfeld and SNL clips that are stored on my MMC card.
I'd love to have a mini-mini laptop, say something like the Moto A630's form factor, a decent web browser (not just WAP 2.0), stereo headset (and make it bluetooth for even more "wow" factor), at least EDGE data rates and iTunes built-in and a 1GB SD card. I could probably live with that for most of my mobile data needs. We're almost there: I think in a year, I'll be very happy.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Real sucks
07/27, 03:12am reply
And Nokia needs to get with the program.
haunebu
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2000
What about battery life?
07/27, 09:13am reply
This is great PR for Apple and iTunes.
I've got a Motorola and the battery life stinks! I've already got to carry a charger around at all times. Just think what listening to music, regardless of the bitrate, will do!
JeffHarris
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Joined: Oct 1999