Motorola gets FCC approval for iTunes phone

[jones]

Motorola gets FCC approval for iTunes phone

By Ina Fried
http://news.com.com/Motorola+gets+FC...3-5841780.html

Story last modified Mon Aug 22 16:09:00 PDT 2005




Motorola is one step closer to launching its long-awaited iTunes phone.
According to documents posted to the Federal Communications Commission's Web site on Saturday, Motorola has received regulatory approval to start selling a cell phone that runs a mobile version of Apple Computer's iTunes software.


A user manual posted on the FCC site shows that the Motorola E790 can run a cell phone version of iTunes and will contain stereo speakers, removable flash memory and Bluetooth technology for short-range radio communications with other devices.

"iTunes is a software application you use to manage the music on your computer and transfer music to your phone," the manual states. "You can use iTunes to purchase and download music for your phone, listen to CDs and digital music, and create playlists of your favorite songs on your phone."

Apple and Motorola have been promising such a phone for more than a year, though the plans have been delayed several times. Last month, Motorola CEO Ed Zander said the first iTunes-capable phone would be on the market by the end of the company's current fiscal quarter, which runs through September.

A Motorola spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the FCC documents. An Apple representative confirmed the company's earlier statement that an iTunes-compatible phone will ship this summer but had no further comment.

"As we've said before, Motorola and Apple are partnering to enable millions of music lovers to transfer their favorite iTunes songs to Motorola's next-generation mobile music phones," the Apple representative told CNET News.com.







Previous Next The E790 manual was posted as one of the documents accompanying the regulatory approval on the FCC's Web site. Such approval is required before a wireless device can be sold to consumers in the United States. The device itself was approved in July, though the iTunes information was only posted to the site on Saturday.

The photo that accompanies the application shows the E398, which is already on the market and may be similar in design to the iTunes-capable phone.

FCC approval, in and of itself, though, does not mean that the arrival of the E790 is imminent, or that it will necessarily be the first iTunes-capable phone on the market.

Word of the FCC's approval and the iTunes mention was earlier noted on several enthusiast sites, including AppleInsider and PhoneArena.

Apple's latest version of iTunes, iTunes 4.9, contained hidden references to a number of mobile phone-related features, though such features are not visible to current users of the software.

[bobolito]

So this means Cingular is one step closer to release it!

[Fire14]

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/sh...ad.php?t=10867 (The Moto E790 iTunes phone gets FCC approval)

[MOTOhooligan]

PC Bluetooth adaptor and unlocked Motorola E790 here I come!.. although I don't really like the appearance of the handset itself, I'd gladly put up which a less-than-perfect-looking phone for the ability to play MP3s.

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by bobolito

So this means Cingular is one step closer to release it!

From Phone Scoop... The Wall Street Journal today reported that Apple has reached an agreement with Cingular to carry the Motorola iTunes phone. This confirms rumors Phone Scoop has heard over the past few months. Motorola CEO Ed Zander promised the phone would be introduced by the end of September. It is now expected Apple will show off the phone at a September 7 event. Invitations read "1,000 songs in your pocket changed everything. Here we go again."

[jones]

the trouble w/ mp3 ringers is that it plays for a few
seconds only.
this will be a hit cuz now teenagers don't have to bring an ipod
and a cell phone.
an ipod can usually store 7,000 songs,
i don't think it can match ipod's capacity.