Motorola ROKR E1 iTunes Phone Launched

Yesterday saw the launch of the new iTunes phone “ROKR” from Motorola. Ina bit of a shock change from the slim RAZR handset, the ROKR is a chunky beast - and not so pretty to look at. The new music phone looks a lot like a white version of the Motorola E398.

Specifications are very much identical to the E398 model, the new phone has 262K TFT color display and that’s all. The difference is in the iTunes support - the Motorola ROKR E1 syncs to the Apple iTunes jukebox software like any iPod music player.

To store the songs the phone uses a microSD card slot; the largest cards available currently are 512 MB. This means you’ll be able to store up to 100 songs, and it’s music features are comparable to the Apple iPod shuffle. The songs are synced via USB through the iTunes application on the phone.

With the Motorola ROKR’s large color screen, cd-album information and artwork associated with your music vividly shows next to the current track.

The Motorola ROKR has also a VGA camera with 4x zoom and flash.

SUMMARY OF FEATURES:
• Apple iTunes mobile music player with dedicated one-touch music key
• Supported Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, and protected AAC
• Video clip capture and playback
• TransFlash memory expansion Slot for up to an additional 512 megabytes of storage with optional card
• Large, active color display (176 x 220)Multi-Media Messaging (MMS)
• Integrated VGA camera with photo indicator LED
• 3D Stereo Sound via 22 KHz enhanced polyphonic speakers with vibration and rhythm lights for enhanced music experiences
• Integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology* for hands-free connectivity
• Enhanced Games with vibration
• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID

A TV commercial was also completed for the phone which includes stars Madonna, Little Richard, Bootsy Collins, Sum 41, Mya, Lil’ Jon, The Pussycat Dolls, The White Stripes, and Billie Joe from Green Day. Actors reportedly play Beethoven, Jimi Hendrix and Biggie Smalls. The ad begins with a teenager talking in a phone both. He is soon joined by Madonna in the booth, followed by an instrumental version of Madonna’s new single, ‘Hung Up.’ As the commercial progresses, more celebrities are packed in the booth, “with various difficulties.”

In France and Italy, the device is expected to arrive in late september through retailers, whereas in Germany, distributors and operator channels will offer the ROKR in the fourth quarter. Other markets include Canada, which will see introduction in mid- to late September with Rogers Wireless; Hong Kong in late september through retail and operator channels; Australia, Singapore and the Philippines in late September and early October; and Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and ‘other markets throughout the world’ in the fourth quarter.

In the UK, the handset will first be available through the Carphone Warehouse in mid-September and then with mobile network operators O2, followed by Orange, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, Vodafone and other retailers through September and October. if you wish to use the handset on an existing tariff you’ll be looking to pay around £240 - sim-free.

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