Kyocera Wireless Corp. announced it plans to build dual-mode CDMA/Wi-Fi handsets using chips from Marvell Technology Group Ltd. “The footprint and adoption of (wireless local area networks) is increasing exponentially and we have carrier customers who are viewing this technology as a complement to their capacity-constrained cellular networks,” said Tom Zeran, vice president of product management at Kyocera. Kyocera is not the first handset maker to announce such products. Indeed, Nokia Corp., Motorola Inc. and a variety of other handset makers already sell dual-mode devices. In other Kyocera news, the company announced it will begin selling its KR1 mobile router. The router can establish a Wi-Fi hot spot, and route the backhaul through a CDMA2000 1x EV-DO connection.
Following the success of its wildly popular Razr, Motorola Inc. is expanding its range of sleek, four-letter phones with the retail release of its Pebl through T-Mobile USA Inc. and its Slvr through Cingular Wireless L.L.C. Motorola’s Slvr-a candybar-style version of the Razr-is selling though Cingular for $200 with a two-year contract. The device features Bluetooth, an integrated camera and-perhaps most notably-Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes software. The software allows users to install up to 100 digital songs into the phone’s memory. Cingular released Motorola’s first iTunes-capable phone, the Rokr, last year. The phone too has a limit of 100 songs-a requirement from Apple to ensure the device wouldn’t cannibalize sales of Apple’s own line of iPod digital music players. Although some had questioned whether Motorola’s relationship with Apple was on the rocks, the unveiling of the Slvr with iTunes shows the Motorola-Apple partnership may still have some life. Steve Lalla, Motorola’s vice president and general manager of mass market products, said Cingular requested that Motorola add iTunes to its Slvr device. Motorola has sold other Slvr models in other parts of the world without the iTunes software. As for T-Mobile USA, the carrier announced it will begin selling the Motorola Pebl through its retail stores. The company in December began selling the Pebl on its Web site. The phone is available for $300.
