Apple Computer Inc. last week announced it will further its foray into
the wireless world by allowing its downloadable iTunes to play on Motorola Inc.
mobile handsets.
Through the partnership, users will be able to transfer songs
from the iTunes jukebox on their desktop computers, including songs from the
iTunes Music Store, to Motorola’s mobile handsets using USB or Bluetooth
connections.
For the deal, Apple is developing a new Apple iTunes mobile
music player application, which Motorola plans to make the standard music
application on all its mass-market music phones. The application is expected to
become available in the first half of 2005.
“We can’t think of a more
natural partnership than this one with Apple, the brand synonymous with
easy-to-use, legal music downloading, and Motorola, the innovator in mobile
technology,” said Ed Zander, chairman and chief executive officer of
Motorola.
“Being able to transfer songs you’ve purchased from iTunes to
Motorola mobile handsets expands the market reach for both of us and drives new
revenue for customers, delivering an amazing music experience to millions of
wireless users,” Zander added.
Indeed, for Apple, the partnership
expands the reach of iTunes, which previously could be transferred only from a
desktop to Apple’s iPod portable music device that retails for $300 to
$400.
Likewise, the deal expands Motorola’s presence in the mobile
entertainment arena, specifically the increasingly popular mobile music space,
which encompasses downloadable music in the form of ring tones, ring-back tones,
song and artist identification applications, mobile karaoke and more.
“We
are thrilled to be working with Motorola to enable millions of music lovers to
transfer any of their favorite songs from iTunes on their PC or Mac to
Motorola’s next-generation mobile phones,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.
“The mobile-phone market-with 1.5 billion subscribers expected worldwide by
the end of 2004-is a phenomenal opportunity to get iTunes in the hands of even
more music lovers around the world, and we think Motorola is the ideal partner
to kick this off.”
