Motorola

U.S. mobile device shipments decline in Q1

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

First-quarter mobile handset shipments in the U.S. slipped to 31 million units, down 28 percent year-over-year, according to a new report issued by market research firm The NPD Group. Overall handset sales revenues in the U.S. fell to $2.7 billion, a 7 percent slide from Q1 2007--according to NPD, with the nation's economic forecast grim and belts tightening, many consumers may be holding back on purchasing new devices. Motorola maintained its lead in U.S. market share, although unit sales declined from 35 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to 27 percent this year, followed by Samsung (18 percent), LG (17 percent), Nokia (8 percent) and RIM (5 percent). NPD adds that first-quarter sales favored more feature-rich devices than those sold a year ago, with smartphones representing 17 percent of all Q1 2008 purchases, up 10 percent year-over-year. During the quarter, almost 80 percent of phones sold boasted Bluetooth technology (up from 65 percent a year ago) and 60 percent of phones were music-enabled (up from just 41 percent a year ago).

For more on the NPD Group report:
-read this release

Related article:
Worldwide handset shipments slow in Q1

Funambol launches open-source development forge

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Mobile messaging software provider Funambol announced the launch of the Funambol Forge, a new open-source repository proposed as a collaborative hub for developers. According to Funambol, the forge will enable developers and other community members to work on mobile projects, share technical tips and download software and documentation--positioned as a central access point for all of Funambol's community programs including Code Sniper and Phone Sniper, it will also house the source and binary code for the open source Funambol Community Edition. The forge will also offer both mailing lists and online forums, as well as an online support forum for the myFUNAMBOL portal. Funambol's open-source push email and PIM sync solutions support more than 1.5 billion mobile devices from manufacturers including Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG.

For more on the Funambol Forge:
-read this release

QUICKLINKS: Sprint to debut Samsung Instinct June 20; Dior follows in Prada's footsteps with fashion phone;

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Sprint to debut Samsung Instinct June 20.

Dior follows in Prada's footsteps with fashion phone.

Videocon woos Motorola's handset biz.

Call Genie, vlingo team on multimodal mobile search.

T-Mobile's 2008 device schedule leaks

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

T-Mobile USA's 2008 device rollout schedule includes the return of Sony Ericsson handsets to the operator's portfolio. Citing an anonymous tipster with a copy of a recent T-Mobile executive meeting agenda, The Boy Genius Report says the carrier will introduce two new Sony Ericsson handsets by Q4: The Bella, a 2 megapixel flip device with aGPS and 3G support, and the W760, a 3.2 megapixel slider with 3G and aGPS support of its own. Motorola will contribute the Z6w (reportedly a WiFi-enabled device) and the ROKR E8--the handset maker will also relaunch its W490 in a series of new color schemes. An "incredible" camera phone and a Windows Mobile 6.1-based device are rumored from HTC.

For more on T-Mobile's device outlook:
-read this Boy Genius Report article

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QUICKLINKS: Android Watch; Neonode N2 unboxing;

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Android Watch: Tracking Google's mobile progress
Since formally announcing its much-anticipated Android open-source mobile operating system late last year, web services giant Google has played its cards tight to the vest. Even with the first Android-based devices slated to hit the market within the next few months, myriad developmental questions remain. Click here for a FierceDeveloper web exclusive spotlighting what we do know about Android, six months on.

> Neonode N2 unboxing. FierceWireless

> Motorola reorganizes handset business. FierceWireless

> Microsoft completes Danger acquisition, restructures. FierceWireless

> Tough going for iPhone in Europe. FierceWireless

> Nokia introduces mobile wallet phone. FierceMobileContent

QUICKLINKS: Hands on with the LG VU; Samsung booth tour photos;

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

> Hands on with the LG VU. FierceWireless CTIA Live

> Samsung booth tour photos. FierceWireless CTIA Live

> June launch for 3G iPhone? Article

> Motorola gives in to Icahn. FierceWireless

AT&T launches Z9

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:59:57 -0400

AT&T has inked a carriage deal with Motorola to offer the handset maker's GPS-centric MOTO Z9. The slider is available for $150 with a two-year contract and after a $50 online discount. The phone comes enabled with AT&T's TeleNav service, which it rebranded as AT&T Navigator. The handset also includes a microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth and quad-band GSM with support for 3.6Mbps HSDPA data. The Z9 is also the first Motorola handset to support AT&T's IMS application: Video Share. -Brian

For more on the Z9 at AT&T:
-read this press release

QUICKLINKS: CTIA Wireless 2008 Smartphone Summit; Sony Ericsson launches first U.S. HSDPA phone;

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:59:55 -0400

CTIA Wireless 2008 Smartphone Summit. FierceWireless

Sony Ericsson launches first U.S. HSDPA phone. FierceWireless

Videocon to bid for Motorola's handset biz. FierceWireless

Kyocera goes GSM. FierceWireless

QUICKLINKS: Google predicts Android will outsell iPhone; YouTube publishes APIs and Tools;

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

> Google predicts Android will outsell iPhone. FierceWireless

> YouTube publishes APIs and Tools. Article

> Motorola replaces two more executives. FierceWireless

> Qualcomm acquires Xiam for $32 million. FierceMobileContent

Motorola executive exodus continues

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

Will the last high-level executive left at Motorola please turn out the lights? Days after chief marketing officer Kenneth C. "Casey" Keller left the embattled equipment maker, Stu Reed--president of Motorola's Mobile Devices unit--abruptly exited the company as well. Prior to taking the Mobile Devices helm, Reed was charged with transforming Motorola's supply chain organization, encompassing the global procurement, new product introduction, manufacturing and customer fulfillment operations. Reed's exit comes as Motorola continues to seek a buyer for its handset business while concurrently exploring merging its network business with that of Nortel Networks--the firm is also maneuvering to stave off a proxy battle spearheaded by activist investor Carl Icahn.

For more on Reed's resignation:
-read this release

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