James Delahunty
23 Aug 2005 13:38
News is circulating that the highly anticipated Motorola iTunes phone has gotten FCC approval, which might indicate the device has moved even closer to commercial debut. A user manual for the E790 GSM phone on the FCC's websites details that iTunes "is a software application you use to manage the music on your computer and transfer music to your phone". The manual also describes how songs can be purchased and downloaded from the handset.
Motorola is not commenting on the FCC approval but a spokeswoman Monica Rohleder told Wireless Week, "as has been previously communicated, all is on track for the Motorola mobile phone with iTunes and we will provide additional information upon availability." The partnership between Apple and Motorola began in July 2004 and since, there has been much speculation over the fate of the iTunes phone.
It received a lack of support from major carriers because the phone still depends on computers and the Internet to purchase music instead of being a revolutionary phone that is able to purchase music over-the-air. Verizon Wireless also has plans to challenge the iTunes phone in co-operation with LG Electronics who will produce the handset for the service. There was more speculation last week that Apple and Nokia had come to a deal to include iTunes software in Nokia's upcoming N91 phone and other N Series models.
Nokia however, was quick to deny that a deal had been made with Apple. The company said it had no plans to side with any corporation for the phone, but because of the way the phones work, companies like Apple could develop software like iTunes quite easily to work on the devices.
Source:
Wireless Week