Motorola iTunes Phone - No Delays?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

The Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0505180165may18,1,7210961.story?ctrack=1&cset=true) reports that the Motorola iTunes phone is coming in "a couple of more months" and that wireless carriers are not resistant to the iTunes-enabled product.

Motorola Inc. Chief Executive Ed Zander said mobile phone carriers aren't balking at his company's plan to sell a phone that doubles as a music player.

"There is no resistance on anybody's part," Zander said. "I don't know where these rumors got started."


The rumors were started primarily from this Businessweek article (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/04/20050419125841.shtml) which cited concern for competition from Wireless carriers.

[Koodauw]

Are they resistant to the Fugly designs shown so far? Lets hope its not what we've seen.

[Abstract]

Lots of phones can play mp3s anyway, so that was never the issue anyway.

And the new design concept going around is just the Moto e398 but redesigned.

I like it....its not ugly if you see it in person, but as I don't believe Apple has any control of the design, lets hope that Moto doesn't give the phone an ugly design.

[After G]

Sounds good to me. I for one would be glad to get an iTunes enabled phone, because I'm looking for a new one anyway. And it can be from multiple wireless carriers now. This just makes getting a new phone even better for me.

[wide]

Are they resistant to the Fugly designs shown so far? Lets hope its not what we've seen.


aren't these designs just renderings by random (i.e. not employed by Motorola) people of what they think the phone might look like?

[swissmann]

Maybe this is why Apple keeps a hush hush on their products until they are ready to go pretty much. Otherwise the public would go even more crazy about the "delays" and "obstacles" than they do already.

[SAukland]

Is it just me, or is this article about the CEO of Motorola denying the resistance to the product he has been fighting for, through all the delays, for months now?

Doesn't sound too out of the ordinary to me for a CEO to defend the product.

Nonetheless, if the cell companies do catch onto this, all I can really hope for is wider iTunes reach, rather then the personal technology. My iPod is working fine for me.

[DTphonehome]

Does anyone really care anymore? This phone has been promised for a looooong time. Many new phones with cool screens and features have come and gone since we've first heard about this thing. The day it's released, we'll all give a collective "cool" and that will be the end of it. Unless it's a dramatically better phone than what else is on the market (and there are some very cool ones out and coming in the next few months), I don't think people will be buying these like they have been iPods.

From the rumors floating about, it just seems like a standard Moto cell phone that has the ability to play one music format more than other music-enabled phones. No crazy Apple design, no stunning new interface. Whoop-dee-do.

[iMeowbot]

Old news. Remember this (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22launch+a+product+on+Sunday+and+sell+it+on+Monday%22+%2Bmotorola&btnG=Search)? Moto claim that Apple want to time the intro on different terms.

[SFVCyclone]

I like it....its not ugly if you see it in person, but as I don't believe Apple has any control of the design, lets hope that Moto doesn't give the phone an ugly design.

I have to disagree, I believe apple does have control of the design or else they wouldn't have as much power over the release of this certain phone.

[noel4r]

I just hope the Apple had control over the physical design of the phone and not just the music player side. This will be as close as you get to the "iPhone". Hopefully they'll preview it at WWDC. Does anybody know if its going to be a GSM phone?

[dongmin]

From the rumors floating about, it just seems like a standard Moto cell phone that has the ability to play one music format more than other music-enabled phones. No crazy Apple design, no stunning new interface. Whoop-dee-do.
The latest rumor I heard was that it's the ROKR that's gonna be iTunes enabled. I haven't seen any images of the phone yet so I don't know if it's a repackage of an old phone, but I'm guessing it'll have a new look, in the mold of the RAZR and PEBL.

As for Apple's involvement, they are porting iTunes to the Motorola phone. So it's more than just adding another format. I'm imagining that you'll be able to buy music directly with your phone. And possibly, further down the line, watch music videos through iTunes.

[bluemouse]

Maybe this is why Apple keeps a hush hush on their products until they are ready to go pretty much. Otherwise the public would go even more crazy about the "delays" and "obstacles" than they do already.

Bingo. It's not much, but it helps me maintain Zen to think of things in this light when I start to wonder about product updates. The public is rabid and the press hypercritical. I understand why Apple is the way they are. Interestingly, I feel that Nintendo is the same way.

-bluemouse

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Assuming our fears are true, how the heck could moto and Apple fumble this one?
When the news broke people where overjoyed. Here we had what could be described as the marriage between two unparallell success stories, the iPod and the cellphone. The idea was clever and the progress in this direction is inevitable.
As the time passed, something happened. What we all thought and hope would be another step in the evolution of the iPod, instead seem to turn out to be a white moto phone with capacity to play mp3.
Assuming this is true, how the heck could moto fumble like this? To me it appear as a perfect example on the wrong man in the wrong place.
Moto and design???? Wouldn't it be better to let Apples designer to come up with an idea?
Why moto in the first place? Apple have been synonymous with high quality products. It would be wrong to accuse moto producing high quality.
The pics I have seen so far (I hope they are very far away from the real version) lack everything that has been the foundation of Apples success: simplicity, highly intuitive user interface, high quality hardware...
Again assuming all this is true, how could Apple lend out their name to this contraption? It smells like a big flopp to me. :confused: :(

[brap]

Wow. A paper release. Nobody cares.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

And just when I was getting my hopes up for Apple to ditch Moto and make an iPhone (a perfect iPod accessory) for themselves... :(

[beatle888]

Lots of phones can play mp3s anyway, so that was never the issue anyway.

And the new design concept going around is just the Moto e398 but redesigned.

I like it....its not ugly if you see it in person, but as I don't believe Apple has any control of the design, lets hope that Moto doesn't give the phone an ugly design.


the issue isnt weither phones can play mp3's. it's people downloading and buying songs from iTunes and cutting out the carriers from the revenue stream. think of how much money carriers make off selling just ringtones. they see this as an opportunity to capture some of the sucsses that apple has had.

[iMeowbot]

The latest rumor I heard was that it's the ROKR that's gonna be iTunes enabled. I haven't seen any images of the phone yet so I don't know if it's a repackage of an old phone, but I'm guessing it'll have a new look, in the mold of the RAZR and PEBL.

Moto have been sticking to the story that there will initially be two phones that can run iTunes. E790 and ROKR are supposed to be separate products, with the advance leaky-hype stuff point toward E790 as more of a traditional phone with iTunes grafted in, and ROKR as higher end toy. (And the dearth of details about the ROKR model has Apple written all over it)

As for Apple's involvement, they are porting iTunes to the Motorola phone. So it's more than just adding another format. I'm imagining that you'll be able to buy music directly with your phone. And possibly, further down the line, watch music videos through iTunes.
It's definitely more than a QuickTime port, the software is supposed to be a complete player.

[PlaceofDis]

still waiting, still waiting

not that i want an iTunes phone or anything, i dont like my current phone though and will probably get a new one come fall, so im being patient, but im willing to see what this phone has to offer, if anything worthwhile

[PretendPCuser]

Bet you can't use dl'd songs for ringtones. "That'll be an extra $2 to enable that song for a ringtone." Please. Spare me. Or better yet, they can *charge* you every time someone calls you when you're using a song as a ringtone. Oh, joy! Sign me up!!!

Let's go further, artists will reverse bid how much royalties they receive for their songs. (Like reverse Google Adwords)

"uh, oh, Eminem lowered his bid on 'Lose Yourself - the ringtone', guess i better lower my bid for 'Candy Shop" -50

Anyone else care to poke fun at how ridiculous things could be? :p

[beatle888]

Does anyone really care anymore? This phone has been promised for a looooong time. Many new phones with cool screens and features have come and gone since we've first heard about this thing. The day it's released, we'll all give a collective "cool" and that will be the end of it. Unless it's a dramatically better phone than what else is on the market (and there are some very cool ones out and coming in the next few months), I don't think people will be buying these like they have been iPods.

From the rumors floating about, it just seems like a standard Moto cell phone that has the ability to play one music format more than other music-enabled phones. No crazy Apple design, no stunning new interface. Whoop-dee-do.



LISTEN UP PEOPLE

jeeze i cant believe people still dont know what this is about.
its about downloading songs from iTunes on your mobile phone. no promise of a new kick butt phone or any other special features. and if you cant see "woop-dee-do" the benefits and revenue stream from that idea i dont know what to say.

[wdlove]

It sounds good then. Increased availability of access to iTunes will increase sales for Apple. :cool:

[MontyZ]

If Motorola combines earbuds with hands-free phone cord, that'll be quite cool. You can listen to music or hear/talk to someone through the same earphones. There will probably have to be a setting that automatically turns music off if a call comes through so you can hear. Or, better yet, leave the music on in the background during your conversation, especially if it's boring. :)

[milzay]

Well Apple could be working on the design and interface for the phone. Right now Apple probably just don't have the manufacturing power / components that are needed to make the phone. So all the inside/hardware could be dealt with by Moto and the design / ui could be dealt with by Apple.
^ i doubt it, but it would be cool...

Also- If this is only using iTunes then this could be just the first steps of Apple testing the market, if it goes good then maybe we'll an iPhone

[Philsy]

Why should you need a special phone to access the iTunes Music Store? Why not just release an 'iTunes Portable' that can be used with any 3G phone or, indeed, PDA?

[elo]

I have to disagree, I believe apple does have control of the design or else they wouldn't have as much power over the release of this certain phone.

Irrespective of what you believe, Apple has no control over the design, nor do they have control over its release, beyond what would normally flow from their licensing rights to the iTunes Music Store.

HTH.

[cawiddis]

As long as Apple insists on redesigning the phone interface... As a very frustrated owner of a RAZR, I have to say that (vs Nokia) Motorolla have the most un-user friendly interface I've ever seen. If Moto are going to keep their design philosophy for the user interface, this will be a very frustrating experience for people used to apple's ease of use.

[drackett]

As long as Apple insists on redesigning the phone interface... As a very frustrated owner of a RAZR, I have to say that (vs Nokia) Motorolla have the most un-user friendly interface I've ever seen. If Moto are going to keep their design philosophy for the user interface, this will be a very frustrating experience for people used to apple's ease of use.

you try re-designing an entire phone interface while still adding in carrier demanded features in a short period of time. Look how long it took OS X to come around and apple didn't have to deal with carriers from all around the world constantly demanding features.

You'll find that the ID will always come first (razr, pebl, rokr) because ID dosn't depend on legacy software or designs. Just rest assured that the UI will follow, just as it did at apple after the iMac came out.

[skid_mark]

I was talking with someone in the industry over the weekend, this person has held and used the iPhone and says that it was a motarola phone and that it just ran a version of iTunes. I tried to get some more technical info out of the person but they wouldn't let me in on most of the details, what they did tell me is that Rogers Wireless in canada is going to carry the phone, and a BIG BIG BIG maybe on Telus having it.

[MontyZ]

As long as Apple insists on redesigning the phone interface... As a very frustrated owner of a RAZR, I have to say that (vs Nokia) Motorolla have the most un-user friendly interface I've ever seen. If Moto are going to keep their design philosophy for the user interface, this will be a very frustrating experience for people used to apple's ease of use.
And that's where OSX Mini (or OSX Mobile) comes in! At least, that's my fantasty. I have a Razr as well, and while the interface is fairly simple to use, it's not very well-designed or intuitive in the way things are organized. An OSX-based interface on a mobile phone would be so awesome.

[dotdotdot]

I hope Moto designs the phone like the V710 or RAZR and not one of their clunky, big, and ugly phones.

[frinky23]

Hey guys, I thought I would post here to let you know that I was a very, very lucky guy recently! I bumped into a guy at a party and noticed something strange about his phone...

Yep, he was a beta tester for the new iTunes phone. We talked about it for a little while and he let me play with it. Apparently Motorola does not share the same desire for secrecy as Apple, because (according to the guy) there are about 100 of these phones in the hands of everyday Motorola employees running around Chicago and being used as their primary mobile.

I'm not stupid - I've seen how Apple reacts to people spilling the beans, so I've thought pretty hard about what I write here. I've decided that I can tell you this:

A) Nearly everything in this thread is wrong.
B) The beta tester says he was chosen because of the specific carrier he uses. I would guess that this means that in the US the iTunes phone will come out only for that carrier.
C) If you hate the Motorola phone interface, don't worry about it. You will love this phone. If you like the Motorola phone interface, don't worry about it. You will love this phone. :)
D) The test phones do bear a striking resemblance to the E398. They aren't exact copies though. The beta tester did mention that they are really just testing the software and the actual phone could be anything. So don't assume the real phones look anything like the test phones.
E) The biggest problem so far has been getting the phone to work with the iTunes Music Store. That problem has been solved. The beta tester told me that as far as he knew, unless something major pops up between now and the release, there is nothing holding it back. It's on schedule. I played with the phone and I can tell you that it looks and feels like it is ready. I can't believe how nice it is!

I was in the market to buy a new phone because my current one is in need of replacement. I am waiting. I can't believe how good this phone is!


For all of you people in Chicago, if you notice anybody with what looks like a silver E398, try to take a closer look. If you see a small button that makes you think iTunes, well... ;)

[roadapple]

I'm not stupid - I've seen how Apple reacts to people spilling the beans, so I've thought pretty hard about what I write here. I've decided that I can tell you this:

BS, if you did see this phone at a party, and the guy let you play around with it, the issue is his and not yours. More details, like his carrier or if the interface uses the scroll wheel. Does it have support for movies? Airtunes? Can it be used as a remote for my iTunes library at home?

[frinky23]

BS, if you did see this phone at a party, and the guy let you play around with it, the issue is his and not yours. More details, like his carrier or if the interface uses the scroll wheel. Does it have support for movies? Airtunes? Can it be used as a remote for my iTunes library at home?

I see that you want me to ruin the surprise for everyone. Sorry, it's not going to happen.

This phone is not groundbreaking in the same sense that the original iPod was not groundbreaking.

There were many portable mp3 players before the iPod, but when the iPod was released it changed everything. The iPod was what an mp3 player was supposed to be. When the iTunes phone comes out you will think to yourself "this is exactly what an iTunes phone is supposed to be."

Now, if you really want to call BS, I will go ahead an type up everything I know about it and post it here, encrypted. On the day it is released, I will post the key. If I am wrong, I will leave and never come back. Arn can block my IP. What are you willing to give up?

[MontyZ]

I see that you want me to ruin the surprise for everyone. Sorry, it's not going to happen.
I thought the reason for not giving out more info was because you're afraid of Apple? Even so, this is still a lame excuse, unless "frinky23" is your real name and Apple knows where you live. :rolleyes:

Besides, everything you mentioned in your post above is so generic and non-specific, you could easily make it apply to any kind of situation to "prove" you were right. You're going to have to provide some details that are unchallengeable before anyone is going to believe you.

[aswitcher]

Well I am now out of my plan so its time to upgrade... No how much longer? And how long until it gets to Oz? And will rev A be a bit of a lemon?

Mmm...

[nms]

irrespective of what it looks like on the fugly factor, what it runs....

where the hell is this thing?

[jayscheuerle]

I hope Moto designs the phone like the V710 or RAZR and not one of their clunky, big, and ugly phones.

I wouldn't see the point of this phone unless it was big enough to have a mini hard-drive in it...

[aswitcher]

Well sounds good.

I hope it syncs everything (todolist and addressbook photos) not just moto stuff.

The E398 (the rumoured model for the iPhone) looks pretty good and the price point will hopefully be much the same.
http://www.mobile-review.com/review/motorola-e398-en.shtml

[hob]

If Motorola combines earbuds with hands-free phone cord, that'll be quite cool. You can listen to music or hear/talk to someone through the same earphones. There will probably have to be a setting that automatically turns music off if a call comes through so you can hear...
Quite cool yes. New, no. I had a nokia phone about 4 years ago with a built in radio that did all that!!

Anyway, for what it's worth... If apple did an iPod/Phone I'd get it, but after the rubbish RAZR i'm putting up with - I'm never buying another moto phone EVER! Back to Sony-Ericsson for me! :)

[gmapes]

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000577048252/
Check this like out!

The RazerBERRY! Just think:
.mac intergration
addressbook
Ical
Mail
IPHOTO- 1.2 mb camera
safari- EDGE connection
Itunes-sdmini support!
Style

WHY NOT?

[frinky23]

I wouldn't see the point of this phone unless it was big enough to have a mini hard-drive in it...

Both the E398 and the V710 can use the SanDisk TransFlash cards. I have no idea about the RAZR. As far as I know, they are only available in sizes up to 256MB, but SanDisk claimed a while ago that they would be available in sizes of up to 1GB. TransFlash cards are compatible with SD cards and if you put one in an adapter you can read and write to them with a standard SD card reader. Put MP3s on them and the E398 and V710 can already play the music. The iTunes phone just takes it further.

[pmoeser]

Well I am now out of my plan so its time to upgrade... No how much longer? And how long until it gets to Oz? And will rev A be a bit of a lemon?

Mmm...

You must have missed the press releases...

First will come the IBM G5 4 GHz Powerbooks...

Then iTunes 4.9...

Then the Australian iTunes Music store...

Then maybe my (currently 4 year old) son will get his drivers licence...

There's a pattern here don't you know...

(and its not the ...)

[lalcan]

Well, i'm running iTunes 4.9 here, so your pattern is really hard to see... :-)

[clayj]

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000577048252/
Check this like out!

The RazerBERRY! Just think:
.mac intergration
addressbook
Ical
Mail
IPHOTO- 1.2 mb camera
safari- EDGE connection
Itunes-sdmini support!
Style

WHY NOT?Well, for starters, it runs Windows Mobile 5.0... I doubt Apple would push iTunes on a Windows-oriented phone. (Myself, I think the RAZRberry is awesome... I've been wanting to trade in my Windows Mobile 2002 phone for a while now. This might be just what the doctor ordered.)

[jayscheuerle]

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000577048252/
Check this like out!

The RazerBERRY! Just think:
.mac intergration
addressbook
Ical
Mail
IPHOTO- 1.2 mb camera
safari- EDGE connection
Itunes-sdmini support!
Style

WHY NOT?

Because my fingers are too large to type on 1/8"x3/16" buttons spaced a millimeter apart...

[jblodgett]

Maybe I am just incredibly out of the loop here, but I just don't understand all the excitement over an iTunes phone.

I have a 40Gig iPod Photo that's loaded with thousands of songs and thousands of pictures. It works great.

I have a Sony Ericcson phone that takes pictures, takes video, and lets me *gasp* make telephone calls. It works great.


An integrated unit may be able to play iTunes based songs - so that would be cool. But we're talking about what -- 150 songs or so, tops?? Its definitely going to be flash based - which means the storage capacity is going to be severely limited.

Is having an iTunes interface THAT big of a deal? And how are you going to listen to music via the telephone? With a plugged in headset? With a bluetooth headset? Is there going to be some kind of bluetooth stereo headset (with a microphone?) coming out in the not-so-distant future?

I guess Apple has to do something to tide itself over until the Intel based macs finally get released - but this just seems like a strange combination to me.

[hob]

I have a 40Gig iPod Photo that's loaded with thousands of songs and thousands of pictures. It works great.

I have a Sony Ericcson phone that takes pictures, takes video, and lets me *gasp* make telephone calls. It works great.


An integrated unit may be able to play iTunes based songs - so that would be cool. But we're talking about what -- 150 songs or so, tops?? Its definitely going to be flash based - which means the storage capacity is going to be severely limited.

Agreed. Personally I prefer to carry 2 or 3 devices that do one thing well, rather than some jack-of-all-trades that can't really do anything...

[Whyren]

Not sure if this has been noted yet, but:
AppleInsider: Existing Motorola handsets talking to iTunes 4.9 (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1158)

[macorama]

more + photos here : http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000887049175/