2006 Moto Annoucements

Bonoriffic, as always we look forward to your announcements, thanks for the updates, can't wait to see what Motorola will unveil on Feb 13.

Are there any pictures of the SCPL?

 

So, it's so thin, it doesn't photograph? =)

The PEBL in color, we already knew about, to an extent - Phonescoop had photos from MotoNext (I think) of the PEBL in neon-ish colors...although I'm curious about your "and even more choices" comment...

Despite the fact that (almost certainly) very little of the cool stuff will be headed for CDMA, I'm curious about the Apple phone you mentioned. Is this another ROKR abortion, or an honest-to-goodness Apple design? And you mentioned that it's GSM - is it going to one of the major carriers, or will Apple launch an MVNO, like so many have been theorizing?

Finally, regarding the Q - I could understand Moto waiting for a tradeshow to release the Q, but wouldn't they lose a lot of market to the Treo 700W by waiting until April?

 

Bono, I laughed at this last statement but I think it's a leap to assume Verizon is the one dragging their feet. What I'm hearing is Motorola was way late in getting the phone to Verizon to test. I do agree Verizon is testing and it sounds like you are familiar with their testing cycles so it will be awhile, maybe April, before we see this phone.

 

Apple branded, OK. But who's actually designing the hardware?

 

You know, Bono, if I didn't know better, I'd think you had something against Apple...

 

Is this not a picture of the scpl?
http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/13/motorolas-new-scalpel-on-the-way/

I had seen a "glowing" pebl on an israeli gadget site, which I had posted the link to a while back.

There was also talk of a RAZR smartphone on that site.

The other interesting rumor was that Motorola was bringing back the Vader. I just realized how much of a genius bono is.

 

Gotcha. The vader I was refering to was this.



Something in the realm of 3 ounces.
Perhaps something of those dimensions with a RAZR thickness. Now that would be something. Unless, of course, the figured out how to make Derek Zoolander's phone.

S

 

In late 2005, Ron Garriques mentioned several new form factors... Next year [Motorola] hopes to create similar excitement with new phone designs including one with a rotating cover the user turns to open, a phone with a cover that slides open...

Also, apparently the GSM version of the Motorola Q has been cancelled. There are rumors that a French website has confirmed this.

 

Thanks for the update Bono...

i am glad to hear we are getting the Z, after seeing the pictures i think i'll hold off for that one instead of going for the SLVR, now the waiting begins....

 

Bono, they announced a GSM "Q"? I heard that was cancelled too. What did they say about it? I understand your point of it might not be the same form factor so are we to assume another smart phone like Q? Any info would be appreciated.

 

No, no, no, no, no, no... there never was a GSM version of the 'Q.' The website where I got that information was mistaken, it appears. I'm going to try and help bono clarify the mess I helped to create.

I said this...

But I was wrong...

There never was a GSM 'Q' in development, but there is a similar smartphone in development for UMTS, which is a thrid generation technology that is backwards-compatible with GSM, meaning you can still use it on GSM-only networks but many of the advanced functions will not work.

Hope this helps to clarify. Here's an article about this...

Motorola Unveils BlackBerry Competitor

The Q phone, with a 'Qwerty' keyboard, is expected to be Motorola's flagship entry into the developing 3G battles.

By W. David Gardner
TechWeb News

Feb 13, 2006 05:46 PM

Motorola said Monday that a UMTS version of its Motorola Q smart phone is being developed. The much-anticipated Q -- for QWERTY keyboard -- has already been slated to be available for CDMA/EV-DO network use, although Motorola indicated that it hasn't yet forged any concrete relationships with cell phone service providers for use of the phone.

The Q phone is expected to be Motorola's flagship entry into the developing 3G battles and is targeted to compete with Research in Motion's Blackberry family, and Palm's Treo as well as with a host of newer entries in the market.

Motorola's announcement Monday indicated that the CDMA/EV-DO networks would get the Q first. "The first Q is expected to ship with CDMA/EV-DO capabilities later this quarter with the newly unveiled version expected to be available for operator trials in late Q4 2006," Motorola's announcement stated.

In the U.S. EV-DO is used by Verizon Wireless, which has a head start with the Qualcomm-developed high-speed data network. Sprint has also been introducing EV-DO. Potential candidates for a UMTS version of the Q could be Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile.

Motorola also showcased several additional products and services at the 3GSM World Congress. The firm said it was working with NTT DoCoMo, Orange and T-Mobile to develop High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) enabled products for networks that can achieve a downlink data rate of up to 3.6Mbps.

Teaming up with Yahoo, Motorola was preparing demonstrations of Yahoo podcasts on Mototola RAZR V3x handsets. The two firms have been collaborating in recent months to make a range of Yahoo products and services available on Motorola devices.

Motorola also launched its Motorola Reach portfolio of GSM network solutions. The effort features GSM base stations and associated products aimed at extending wireless call coverage in rural and remote areas.

 

MOTOhooligan, I hear ya but I disagree with 1 point that there never was a GSM Q. I have some inside sources that have confirmed it's existence and subsequent cancellation.

That said, I understand by Bono's clarification he was referring to a UMTS Q. I hadn't heard of Motorola coming out with a UMTS version in 2006 before now. Thanks to MOTOHooligan's article we now have confirmation.

Next question, does anyone really think Motorola can launch a UMTS version of this phone by end of the year? The CDMA version hasn't exactly been rushed to market. In my opinion the answer is a definite NO!

 

Huh? Forgive my ignorance here but what's the difference? I hate when companies play semantics with their press releases. Just tell us the facts and don't play games with the truth.

 

I think something like this, is what was meant.

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/04/20/motorola-canary-surfaces-set-to-be-razr-successor/

Any info?

 

This phone will not be branded Vader and it is not the SCPL. It will be out by this summer.

 

Yes that picture has been posted all over different cell phone forums, and definitely not the SCPL (Moto, how do you know that, i thought i was the only one, well besides a very reliable source we have here at WA )

I also hear it's coming this summer.

 

Engadget mobile has some better pics here.

Anyone else notice that it looks like this phone, whatever it's called, will be running Moto's newer Linux "no menu key" OS...?

 

Any chance there will be CDMA versions?