Motorola launches mobile phone for the next billion users

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 29 November 2006 00:58

Business IT - Technology

Motorola has launched, in India, the Motofone featuring a display based on electronic paper technology and billed as "the first of a new breed of handsets designed to disrupt today's communications landscape by cutting across price tiers, product segments and international markets." However despite affordability being touted as one of its key attributes, the company has given no indication of pricing.

The phone is Motorola's initial contribution to an industry-wide drive to connect the next billion cellphone users by reducing the cost of handsets. It is based on Motorola's new SCPL design platform and will be available in both GSM and CDMA versions.

According to Motorola, "Motofone re-establishes expectations over how a value-priced handset looks and feels and what it delivers. Offering an intuitive new interface built with icons and voice versus text, as well as voice prompts specifically tailored to local markets, the handset makes it easier and friendlier for first-time users to navigate, place a call, and retrieve messages. Its large, high contrast screen, powered by a revolutionary ClearVision display makes it easier to use the phone outdoors."

E Ink Corporation, a supplier of electronic paper displays, is providing the display technology behind ClearVision. According to Motorola, "the changeable electronic ink display is easy to read in bright sunlight or dimly lit environments from virtually any angle - just like paper. Additionally, the display is plastic, lightweight and ultra-low power, making it ideal for mobile and power sensitive applications by eliminating the weight and breakability of glass used in LCD displays."

Russ Wilcox, CEO of E Ink Corporation, claimed that launch of the Motofone ,"marks an unique moment in the display industry as it shows that electronic paper displays are entering the mainstream."

The GSM version, Motofone F3, is available today in India and will roll out in international markets in the coming weeks. Motorola says it is working towards shipping the CDMA version, Motofone F3c, by the end of 2006.