“The long-awaited iTunes music phone from Motorola Inc. and Apple Computer Inc. will be introduced Wednesday and could be in stores later this week,” Jon Van writes for The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Motorola’s new phone, which will operate on the Cingular Wireless network, will be “the next generation of Swiss Army Knife cell phones,” said Mitch Mitchell, an A.T. Kearney vice president, combining functions of Apple’s iPod music player with voice, messaging and other cell phone features.”
“Other mobile phone-makers, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung, have introduced music phones or plan to do so soon, but Motorola’s version–based on Apple’s pioneering and popular iTunes format–has generated the most interest,” Van writes. “Schaumburg-based Motorola earlier signaled an iTunes phone announcement but backed away at the insistence of Apple, which traditionally announces new products shortly before they are available in stores rather than months in advance as is common in the wireless phone industry.”
Van writes “Neil Strother, mobile devices research director at market research firm NPD Group, [says], ‘It’s a no-brainer to do this, but whenever a new device comes in, every first generation has issues,, he said. One concern may be battery life, he said. Users of both mobile phones and iPods have noticed how often they must recharge their batteries to keep the gadgets operating. ‘I know the engineers have been working on this for years, but by adding cell phone function to iPod function, you wonder how long the batteries will last before they need charging,’ he said.”
Full article here.
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iTunes phone song sales may bring slim profits for mobile service providers – September 06, 2005
Forbes: Apple ‘could be debuting just about anything’ on September 7 – September 03, 2005
RUMOR: Motorola Apple iTunes phones to offer 256, 512MB storage, ability to buy music via networks – September 02, 2005
RUMOR: Apple to switch entire ‘iPod mini’ line to flash memory, higher resolution color screens – September 02, 2005
Germany’s T-Mobile to offer Motorola Apple iTunes mobile phone – September 02, 2005
BofA: ‘Apple-branded’ Motorola iTunes cell phones due next week – September 02, 2005
Report: Motorola teams with O2 carrier for Apple iTunes phone in UK – September 01, 2005
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Apple in deal with Cingular to offer Motorola iTunes phone – August 30, 2005
Analysts speculate on what Apple CEO Steve Jobs will unveil during ‘special event’ next Wednesday – August 29, 2005
Apple announces ‘special event’ to be held September 7th – August 29, 2005
Report: Motorola to debut ROKR Apple iTunes phone on September 7 – August 25, 2005
Motorola: ROKR Apple iTunes phone debut ‘big enough to have its own event’ – August 19, 2005
Apple Computer shares hit all-time high amid broad tech selloff, fueled by Google iTunes rumors – August 12, 2005
Separate battery?
Kinetic energy?
Methane.
This is exactly why multi-function cell phones will primarily be used as cell phones and why even an iTunes phone will never replace a dedicated iPod. Analysts go ga-ga over the latest gadget, but they remain clueless to the fact that when push comes to shove, the vast majority of people would like their cell phone be available to make and take calls instead of using up the juice using secondary features like listening to music or whatnot. I know I’d personally be a lot more aggravatetd not being able to make a call than not being able to listen to music on my phone.
I’m sure the iTunes phone will remain a hit, but just like camera phones acted to boost sales of digital cameras instead of replacing them, the iTunes phone will have the same effect.
AH HA!!!
NewType:
I think you nailed why Apple would be interested in a iTunes phone… They are mostly interested in selling more iPods.
The battery life and storage are going to be quite insufficient on the new phone compared to what is available even in an iPod Mini.
The new phone is the newest gateway drug from Cupertino.
“I’m sure the iTunes phone will remain a hit, but just like camera phones acted to boost sales of digital cameras instead of replacing them, the iTunes phone will have the same effect.”
I agree NewType. Take the camera out of my phone and leave me with a very small mobile phone with a easy to sync (via Bluetooth) address book and calendar so I can have my contacts and appointments (not PDA-quality, just the alarms and basic info).
I want long battery life and notification when I have a meeting and I want it to sync with my Mac so I don’t have to keep updating both sets of databases. Too bad all the phone vendors insist that my phone takes pictures, plays music and has full keyboard in some cases for text messaging/e-mail.
This phone will probably be cool technology, but I will stick with my iPod for music, my digital camera for pictures and my current cell for calls (until my dream phone above comes out for SprintPCS or December 2006 rolls around).
I concur with NewType – my phone runs on standby most of the time and will last nearly a week between recharges. If I start using it, it soon goes down. That’s why I don’t want a built in radio or MP3 player or bother with the games apps on my existing phone (or even games on my PDA) – if they run out of power while I’m out then that’s tough luck but it only stops me listening to music.
I think an iTunes phone would be a hit with schoolkids / college students / anyone who currently cares about downloading ringtones. (Direct download would also be a hit with this audience – I have younger relations who use phones, text messaging, etc but do not use PCs, iTunes, email).
is it Apple branded?
Im betting its flash based…
that way it uses a fraction of the power of a hard disk ipod. Plus it can be much smaller.
I’ve been saying the same thing all along…battery life will suck.
hahahah! a harddrive in a phone!!! hahahah!
ofcourse its flash based.
Kevin: “I agree NewType. Take the camera out of my phone and leave me with a very small mobile phone with a easy to sync (via Bluetooth) address book and calendar so I can have my contacts and appointments (not PDA-quality, just the alarms and basic info).”
I agree completely. I want my phone as small as possible, in my pocket, always ready. Take the camera and other gimmicks away and make the phone smaller with a longer battery life.
The iPod phone may get a lot of press, but I can’t believe it will really be that popular (or maybe I am just out of touch?).
Why don’t phone companies work with the carriers to improve signal strength and reception. Much more important than music/camera/tv on your phone.
macman: because it’s hard to market signal strength and reception. They are intangibles. Cell carriers think the phones are what bring people into their stores so they beat each other up trying to get an exclusive on the latest stupid phone gimmick (in no particular order):
cameras
FM radio
MP3 players
colour screens
colour covers
push to talk
custom ring tones
custom CALLER ring tones
and the list goes on…
Andy
Magic Word: lost. How appropriate, since the cell carriers seem to be lost when it comes to marketing their products.