11/08/2005, 2:25pm, EST
Tuesday, November 8th
Second iTunes phone: Motorola RAZR V3i
Motorla's RAZR V3i will feature the same mobile iTunes software found the in the iTunes ROKR phone launched by Motorola in early September. The software allows users to either randomly or manually autofill the phone/MP3 player with podcasts, audiobooks, or music songs. Since its launch, Apple has added full video support to iTunes, however, Motorola's product pages mention no support for video.
The original iTunes ROKR phone, which has failed to meet expectations and has not sold as well as analysts expected, limits music storage to 100 songs. However, with its second generation iTunes phone, Motorola didn't provide any further details on the iTunes integration, but noted that the handset offered a mini-USB stereo headset and a hot-swappable TransFlash memory card, which could be used to expand the music or other content storage. The company said that handsets featuring iTunes software will offer a dedicated iTunes key for easy access to music.
Motorola also launched new pink and blue versions of the RAZR phone along with a new CDMA RAZR with Ev-DO, designed for mobile carriers that utilize CDMA networks, such as Sprint and Verizon; however, Motorola said that iTunes support will depend on each mobile carrier and regional availability/support, and specifically indicated that iTunes would not be available on all models in all regions. Currently, the only available iTunes phone--the ROKR--is exclusively available through Cingular, an arrangement that may continue, following remarks by Apple's CEO Steve Jobs and interest by Cingular to create a joint music download service with Apple.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video
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I have Cingular, I hate them, all of my friends and acquaintances who have Cingular hate them.
Sorry Steve-o, you picked a bad partner. I'm going with T-Mobile even if it means a non-iTunes RAZR in my pocket.
Well, let's hope that this phone ends up doing better... though it's still Moto, and they never disappoint to disappoint.
climacs - not a bad partner at all, in terms of market penetration, and willingness to work with partners. T-Mobile (which I have and prefer myself) has been a dead duck over the past year in terms of doing ANYTHING, and their selection of phones has gone very stale. Until that changes, Cingular is a better partner for Apple.
This is the phone I'd be interested in, especially if its supported by iSync. I'd trade in my SonyEricson T637 for this if its as good as expected.
My question is what's the battery life going to be like? When the battery of my phone is low, I only use it if it's absolutely necessary. The iPod nano is so small why bother with something like this?
One other question: can't somebody make a slick phone without all the extra crap... uh, toys... like music players and cameras. Seriously, after the toy-factor wears thin, how much will this stuff actually get used?
So then I must admit that I'm a bit perplexed that Cingular agreed to field an iTunes phone that lets you load music directly from you computer as opposed to making you pay to transfer it over their network. Perhaps they are desperate to get a little iPod halo effect of their own?