Motorola begins fall push with Q Music 9m

Looking to recoup its fortunes, in part, with a high-tier smartphone, Motorola Inc. launched its updated Q-the Q Music 9m-at Verizon Wireless.
For Verizon Wireless, the launch updates its single smartphone offering from Motorola. The Q Music 9m will sell in tandem with the prior model of the Q.
Meanwhile, Motorola’s new flagship handset, the Razr2, launched today at Sprint Nextel Corp., which is selling the Razr2 v9m online for $250, while the prior-generation Razr v3m models are being offered for free until Sept. 3. (Both prices depend on the standard, two-year contract.)
The Razr2 is Motorola’s mainstream bid for recouping profits, market share and brand gloss, and will launch at four other major carriers in the United States in early September.
The Q Music 9m, which offers access to Verizon Wireless’ Vcast Music service, is available today online for $200. It will be available in the carrier’s brick-and-mortar stores Aug. 29. The two companies’ press release cited a price of $300, after a $50 mail-in rebate. It was not immediately clear whether the latter price applied to in-store purchases or whether the carrier was offering online purchasers a discount. The original Q, with rebates, is priced online at $180.
Motorola representatives this week touted improvements to the Q Music 9m over its predecessor, including an easier setup for e-mail, a redesigned keyboard, hard buttons designated for Vcast Music, and screen sensors that adjust the screen to changing light conditions. According to the company, analysis of past Q purchasers led it to emphasize consumer-based functions such as music offerings for youthful buyers seeking to upgrade from clamshell handsets with its new offering.
The Q Music 9m supports over-the-air music downloads via Verizon Wireless’ CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network, runs Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 6 software and provides 11 types of messaging applications.
Motorola is seeking to return its mobile devices unit to profitability, a goal that might benefit from the launch of a smartphone such as the Q Music 9m, which presumably carries a higher margin than lower-priced offerings in the company’s portfolio.