On Friday, Motorola Inc. shares rose 9 percent on the hopes that the new Cliq "Google Phone" could reverse its string of loss making. The phone, which it developed with Google Inc., pleased analysts that believe it might be the key to boosting its failing handset business. The phone's social networking features in particular caught the attention of analysts.
"Our initial take is favorable, and it seems that Motorola is carving out a niche in the crowded smartphone market by focusing on socially minded demographics as opposed to enterprise users or pro-sumers," RBC analyst Mark Sue said, raising his price target on Motorola shares from $8 to $10.
T-Mobile USA will offer the Cliq in the fourth quarter in the country. Orange planes to sell the phone in Britain and France, while Telefonica will sell it in Spain and America Movil in Latin America. It will be called Dext outside the United States.
Motorola will launch another phone later this year that uses Google's Android software. Some analysts believe that it is Motorola's next big hope to regain market share it lost to Apple, Nokia and Samsung.
"We believe Motorola needs to sell about 2 million smartphones a quarter to return to profitability in handsets, and the Cliq is a good first step to achieving this level," said Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt.
T-Mobile USA will offer the Cliq in the fourth quarter in the country. Orange planes to sell the phone in Britain and France, while Telefonica will sell it in Spain and America Movil in Latin America. It will be called Dext outside the United States.
Motorola will launch another phone later this year that uses Google's Android software. Some analysts believe that it is Motorola's next big hope to regain market share it lost to Apple, Nokia and Samsung.
"We believe Motorola needs to sell about 2 million smartphones a quarter to return to profitability in handsets, and the Cliq is a good first step to achieving this level," said Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt.
