Motorola preps iTunes RAZR phone
updated 11:15 am EDT, Mon June 12, 2006
Mot iTunes RAZR coming
Motorola is prepping the launch of the third-generation version of its iTunes phones in the US. The company this month began distributing marketing materials that advertise an iTunes-compatible version of its popular RAZR phone and has already begun selling the phone in the UK. In November of last year, the company announced the quad-band Motorola RAZR V3i, the third mobile phone from the company to run iTunes mobile software -- a result of the joint partnership between the two companies that began last year with the release of the first iTunes ROKR phone, which was called a flop by industry analysts and the media. Despite the failures, however, many industry analysts believe that music-enabled cell phones will challenge the iPod-dominated MP3 player market.
The forthcoming iTunes RAZR phone, due later this month, is based on the popular RAZR platform from Motorola, which has turned the company's fortunes around following loss of marketshare to rival manufacturers such as Nokia and Samsung. The company will use the "The RAZR that Rocks" slogan to help push sales of the new phone. As with other iTunes phones, the mobile handset will be available initially through the Cingular mobile carrier network. Last year, Apple CEO Jobs praised Cingular when commenting about the lack-luster reception of the first iTunes ROKR phone, but said that he was happy with the first iTunes mobile phone expermiment.
The sleek flip Motorola RAZR v3i also includes a 1.23 megapixel digital camera and a micro-SD flash slot. The phone capacity is limited to 100 stored songs.
The second-generation iTunes phone, the Motorola SLVR L7, launched earlier this year following a report that the next-generation ROKR E2 cell phone will not include Apple's iTunes software, because it was developing its own download digital radio service to compete with Apple's iTunes.
Motorola had initially planned to introduce the iTunes RAZR phone in the fourth quarter of 2005.
so, how come...
06/12, 11:54am reply
... that the RAZR 3i was available in the asian markets since FEBRUARY (including iTunes), yet it is apparently treated as this super-duper novelty, here?
This shouldn't be 'news', this should be 'what took them this long?'
ZinkDifferent
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Joined: Jan 2005
re: so, how come...
06/12, 12:09pm reply
Oh, so you are NOT aware that when it comes to cell phones that the asian markets are generally years ahead of us?
koolkid1976
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Joined: May 2003
Confused of Winchmore Hil
06/12, 12:10pm reply delete
Yes I had preumed that it had been available for months maybe it has here in UK I don't know.
spyinthesky1
Joined:
availability
06/12, 12:36pm reply
It was released here in Canada early May, so it's not a huge leap ahead of the US market. Guess you had a larger supply of the original RAZRs to foist off on the style-conscious.
bogmonster
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No Biggie !
06/12, 12:38pm reply
The RAZR v3i has been available in the Toronto, Canada market for months now. The 3 biggest carriers all carry them (Rogers, Bell & Telus). The largest carrier (Rogers.com) has been promoting the c*** out of it for well over two months. People here love the looks, but hate how slow the interface is, how fast the batteries get sucked up, there's no vibrate mode and the iTunes loading is painfully slow thru a USB 1.1 port on its side.
DahlBryn
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Cell phone providers
06/12, 01:59pm reply
There is no technical reason (except maybe battery life) why we can't have a kick-a**, music-playing phone in the U.S.
All the limitations placed on the cell phone industry are placed there by the service providers themselves, and Apple also had an interest in ensuring that the first ROKR was a failure.
I imagine the RIAA has a hand in all this as well, as they make more money selling 3 second ringtones than they ever would from selling full-length songs at a reasonable price.
Dr.Funkenstein
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why motorola?
06/14, 11:02am reply
I wish iTunes mobile wasn't exclusive to Motorola. The W series line of phones from Sony Ericsson kick a** over anything out there by far.
In an interview the US manager said they were willing to work with Apple for integration. What's the deal, Apple?
The W810 and W710 are so much better that even without iTunes I will get one and it will replace one of my iPods for when I go hiking or to the gym (since it includes bluetooth 2 and usb, and FM stereo). Still have to have an iPod though for road trips and data storage. The phones are catching up though.
benhur
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