Amid second-quarter financial result releases and a much-anticipated
analyst meeting, Motorola Inc. launched a slew of mobile devices last week, the
majority of which feature integrated Bluetooth technology.
The new Motorola
V551 EDGE handset is targeted at users interested in both business and
entertainment-related features. The phone includes quad-band capabilities,
integrated Bluetooth technology, speaker phone, conference calling and e-mail
support. In addition, the V551 has an integrated camera, video capture and
playback, photo editing capabilities, multimedia messaging service and MP3 ring
tones, and a large color display. The phone will be available in North America
in the fourth quarter and a variation of it, the V555, will be available in
Europe and Asia.
The new Motorola MPx220 mobile e-mail device also caters to
mobile professionals interested in entertainment applications. The device
includes Windows Mobile software, an integrated 1.23-megapixel camera, Bluetooth
technology, and quad-band and synchronization capabilities. “Once you’ve
experienced the MPx220, whether it be e-mail synchronization moving to the
latest hits with the built-in MP3 player or even recording your own piece of
history using the megapixel camera, the Motorola MPx220 is your ideal
companion,” said Michael Tatelman of Motorola. Furthering the MPx220’s play
in the enterprise space, Research In Motion said it will enable BlackBerry
connectivity on the device, along with the MPx, through its BlackBerry Connect
licensing program, which will allow the devices to connect to RIM’s BlackBerry
Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Web Client services. The services integrate
with Microsoft Exchange or IMB Lotus Domino for wireless access to e-mail and
corporate data.
Motorola’s new A780 EDGE device features MOTOSYNC, the
company’s new secure over-the-air synchronization solution for synching e-mail,
calendar and contacts. The A780 also includes personal digital assistant
capabilities, a digital camera, video player, MP3 player, quad-band capabilities
and Bluetooth technology.
Motorola’s new RAZR V3, an ultra-thin phone that
features a color display, Bluetooth technology, quad-band capabilities, a
speaker phone, MP3 ring tones, MPEG4 video, and a digital camera, and the new
Motorola Ojo Personal Video Phone, were scheduled to be previewed last week by
former NFL quarterback Phil Simms. Further information about the devices was not
available at press time.
Motorola also debuted the V975, a clamshell form
factor, and the candy bar-shaped C975, both touted as affordable
third-generation handsets. The phones include multimedia features like
application and game downloads, two-way video conferencing, streaming audio and
video recording capabilities, and VGA cameras with four-times zoom. They are
expected to be available in the fourth quarter for undisclosed prices.
In
separate device news, Nokia announced the N-Gage QD game deck device is now
available in the U.S. market for use on T-Mobile’s U.S.A. Inc.’s GSM network and
soon on AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s GSM network. The device, which starts at
$100, comes with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game. The device features a multimedia
slot for instant gaming, longer battery life, improved gaming controls, a
brighter screen, smart-phone features and the new N-Gage Arena launcher
application that allows gamers to connect to the worldwide mobile gaming
community over mobile networks. The N-Gage also includes Bluetooth technology
for close-range mobile multiplayer gaming.
