ATLANTA-Following the success of its wildly popular Razr, Motorola Inc. is expanding its range of sleek, four-letter phones with the retail release of its Pebl through T-Mobile USA Inc. and its Slvr through Cingular Wireless L.L.C.
Motorola’s Slvr-a candybar-style version of the Razr-is now selling though Cingular for $200 with a two-year contract. The device features Bluetooth, an integrated camera and-perhaps most notably-Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes software. The software allows users to install up to 100 digital songs into the phone’s memory.
Cingular released Motorola’s first iTunes-capable phone, the Rokr, last year. The phone too has a limit of 100 songs-a requirement from Apple to ensure the device wouldn’t cannibalize sales of Apple’s own line of iPod digital music players. Although some had questioned whether Motorola’s relationship with Apple was on the rocks, the unveiling of the Slvr with iTunes shows the Motorola-Apple partnership may still have some life.
Steve Lalla, Motorola’s vice president and general manager of mass market products, said Cingular requested that Motorola add iTunes to its Slvr device. Motorola has sold other Slvr models in other parts of the world without the iTunes software.
As for T-Mobile, the carrier announced it will begin selling the Motorola Pebl through its retail stores. The company in December began selling the Pebl on its Web site. The phone is available for $300.
