UPDATE: TECH SHOW: Motorola Unveils First Tablet At Trade Show
January 05 2011 - 9:53PM
Dow Jones News
Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) didn't wait long to make a
splash as an independent company, unveiling its first tablet and
several smartphones as it jumps on the 4G bandwagon.
Chief Executive Sanjay Jha unveiled the first tablet, the Xoom,
which runs on the latest version of Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android
software. In addition, he unveiled the Droid Bionic, which will run
on Verizon Wireless's fourth-generation network, and talked up the
Atrix 4G, which will run on AT&T Inc.'s (T) newly redubbed 4G
network.
These devices will serve as a barometer for how Motorola will
compete as a smaller, standalone company. Wednesday marked its
second day as a public entity, as the company now faces off against
other behemoths in the smartphone and tablet business, including
Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE), which
last year became the top manufacturer of Android phones.
While Jha acknowledged that size does matter for a technology
company, he believes the more important factor for success is the
ability to continue innovating, he said in an interview.
Still, Jha said Motorola plans to sell fewer smartphone models
than the 23 it released in 2010, and that he would focus on
products with a broader appeal.
On Wednesday, Motorola introduced the Xoom, which will run on
Google's "Honeycomb" version of Android, which Jha said was better
suited for tablets because it was designed to serve larger mobile
devices.
The new operating system includes Android features such as
widgets, multitasking, browsing and access to more than 100,000
apps on the Android Market. It also features 3D maps, a collection
of more than 3 million e-books, and video and voice chat.
Initially, it will sell through Verizon Wireless as a 3G device
in the first quarter, but Jha said the company plans to introduce a
4G version later on. Customers eventually will be able to take the
3G tablet back to Verizon Wireless stores to get it upgraded to a
4G connection.
Motorola wasn't alone in unveiling a tablet Wednesday. T-Mobile
USA and LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE) also joined the fray,
unveiling a new tablet dubbed the G-Slate that is expected to go on
sale in the coming months.
T-Mobile, owned by Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE.XE), said the
G-Slate will be among the first 4G tablets to fully benefit from
Honeycomb, the next version of Google's Android operating system
that was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen
sizes than mobile phones.
"The T-Mobile G-Slate with Google will build on our rich history
of Android innovation and leadership and deliver deep integration
with Google services," said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer
of T-Mobile USA.
Jha said he expects many tablets to launch in the coming months.
The trick is staying ahead and ensuring the right kind of carrier
support and marketing, he said.
Motorola, meanwhile, also showcased a pair of 4G phones. The
Droid Bionic is the latest device in Verizon Wireless's line of
high-end Android smartphones. Jha said the company hopes to sell
the device in the second quarter. It is the first of several
devices Verizon Wireless is unveiling Thursday when it talks up its
own 4G service.
The other was the previously unveiled Atrix 4G, which Jha showed
off during an AT&T event earlier Wednesday. AT&T said it
would be available in the coming weeks, and said the pricing would
be competitive.
Both phones feature large screens and a dual-core Tegra
processor from Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), promising higher speeds.
Moving in to 4G is crucial because carriers that are looking for
a high-end phone and see one without 4G now consider it "lacking,"
Jha said.
Jha also unveiled a more standard smartphone, the Cliq 2, which
will sell Jan. 19.
While much of the hype has been around the Xoom, Jha said that
in the long run he believes the smartphone will still play a bigger
role in the lives of consumers.
"The most compelling device fits in your pocket," he said.
Over the next few years, he sees the ratio of product launches
to be roughly four to five smartphones for every tablet
released.
-By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2153;
roger.cheng@dowjones.com
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