Motorola to split in two - Mobile devices and mobility solutions

You are not doing good business, you’ve posted losses for four consecutive quarters, and your investors are not happy – what do you do? You split your company in two. That pretty much sums up what Motorola has decided to do.

Motorola, as I already mentioned, is suffering heavy losses recently and there was a talk that it could sell its mobile phone division. But in a press release today, Motorola has confirmed that it will be splitting the company in two – mobile devices and mobility solutions.

Greg Brown, the CEO, will take care of the broadband and mobility business and the company is in search of a person to take care of the mobile devices division.

Motorola has said that this will help the management focus better on the business and might also help its shareholders.

So, Motorola has made a quick decision and put an end to all the speculations. This move, I think, will help them concentrate better on both divisions – mobile devices and mobility solutions – properly and might also give them some time to regroup and come up with an idea to revive their handset business.

Categories: All things mobile phones.

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Motorola - the road ahead

The story of Motorola is something that has always amazed me. I mean, a profit of over $340 million in one year and a loss of over $380 million the next year is something I cannot understand.

The mobile phone giant has posted monumental losses for four quarters in a row now, which has made its investors think twice about its future. A lot of investors are pushing Motorola to sell its mobile phone manufacturing unit, as they consider it a liability. The mobile phone biz alone, if sold, could fetch a sum of around $20 billion, according to sources.

Some big names, especially some companies from Asia, are interested in buying Motorola’s mobile phone unit. However, it’s not just about mobile phone companies. People who watch the market closely say that even a company like Google might consider Motorola a good option. Google, instead of asking other companies to incorporate its platform, can come up with its own range of Android based mobile phones if it decides to buy Motorola. However, I have to say it’s a far fetched idea, as Google may not have any such idea, at least in the near future. Google doesn’t like to identify itself as a mobile phone company, as its core revenue is based on advertising - which is the primary reason why it came up with Android, a mobile phone platform, instead of Google phone, unlike what most of us had predicted.

One thing’s for sure. Motorola is struggling. Whether it will reinvent itself with a stunning model like RAZR to reestablish its position in the market or sell its mobile phone biz to someone is something we’ll have to wait and watch.

Categories: All things mobile phones.

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Garmin’s new mobile phone and rumors on Dell mobile phone

Two very interesting developments in the mobile phone market. Alright, alright; one is an actual development and the other is a speculation. Here goes.

Garmin has developed their own mobile phone, that too a very advanced one. It’s called the “ne” and it is packed with loads of features. Firstly, it has in-built GPS technology, as you would expect from Garmin. Secondly, it has an in-built Google search application. So, if you want to search for a lingerie shop nearby, (why does it always have to be a coffee shop? ) you can use Google search and get results quickly. It is slim, slick, has a touchscreen, has a brilliant mobile web browser, and a personal navigator which will direct you, wherever you want to go.

Now, coming to the speculation part. Rumor has it that Dell is working on developing a mobile phone of its own, which might be a cutting-edge stuff, just like the Apple iPhone. Some insiders even say that Dell poached Ron Garriques, who was the head of handsets in Motorola, to head the team which is developing its own mobile phone. Might be true, might be false; but these kinds of rumors make this industry a happening one.

Categories: All things mobile phones.

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YouTube Mobile

By now, it’s clear to everyone around the world that a YouTube account is the most important thing in the online world, only next to a mail id. I was actually wondering how YouTube hasn’t done anything to improve its presence on mobile phones despite having millions of users in the world who use their mobile phones to access YouTube. After all, we all know that a lot of people shoot videos in their mobile phone and upload them in YouTube, all in a matter of minutes. With this being the case, it was essential for YouTube to do something which will actually boost the number of mobile users who browse YouTube from their mobile phones. It has done it, finally.

YouTube announced a few days back that its service will be extended to a wide range of mobile phones. As of now, a majority of YouTube users still depend on high-speed internet to stream videos. This, however, will change soon as YouTube will come up with a service that will make streaming videos on mobile phone much easier, in fact just as easy as doing so in the internet. Handsets from Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and LG can support this service and what more, this service will be available in 11 languages and in 17 countries, making it easier for international YouTube users.

Categories: All things mobile phones, Mobile Web.

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TELSTRA and Vodafone launch mobile advertising programs

Two things.

1. TELSTRA has partnered with WPP, a well-known marketing group, to try its hands on mobile advertising in its mobile portal called BigPond. WPP will help advertisers run their ads in the mobile portal and so far, some big names like Proctor and Gamble, Ford, Volvo, HSBC, Motorola, and Kraft have booked their space for advertising in this mobile portal.

2. Vodafone has come up with what it calls a mobile advertising rulebook, which will enable advertisers run their ads in the network. Pepsi, Coke, and 20th Century Fox are some of the names associated with this advertising campaign. In addition to that, Vodafone has also come up with a completely ad-funded mobile channel called Free4me, which as the name suggests, is free for customers. Customers will be able to watch television shows and various other programs in this channel.

I actually foresee a day when there will be more sponsors for a mobile TV show than an actual television show, the former being ad-funded and completely free for customers. I’d also like to add, that day is not too far away.

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising.

2 comments.

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