Motorola snubs Apple, takes on iTunes

Motorola's next-generation ROKR E2 cell phone will not include Apple's iTunes software and the company is set to take on Apple's iTunes Music Store with its own download digital radio service, according to a new report from Reuters: The company today revealed details of its plans for iRadio, a subscription music service that will go on sale this year. Both the service and the phone will be sold through various mobile operators. According to the report, Motorola's iRadio service will first run on the Rokr E2 cell phone, which, unlike the first Rokr phone, will not include Apple's iTunes music software. Motorola aims to sell the service and phone via mobile operators. The iRadio service, will include 435 commercial-free radio channels. The company said that iRadio will let users download channels on the computer and transfer them to play on their phones or on car or home stereos, like satellite radio.

Although Motorola did not announce any specific mobile carrier partnerships, the company said that the mobile radio service will cost around $7 per month. Along with the channels provided users could also use iRadio to put their own music collections on their phone, according to the reort. Motorola plans to demonstrate iRadio at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week along with a new C51 cordless home phone that can be used for regular home phone services or with wireless phone dock that lets consumers use it as their cell phone to improve call quality at home.

Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video