Motorola surprised the CeBIT technology conference here March 10 with its announcement that it would postpone the unveiling of a new cell phone that could download and play music purchased from Apple’s iTunes Music Store.
Some observers reported Motorola’s move might indicate “tensions” with other cell phone makers looking to sell music to cell users, but Motorola is denying that any such tensions had a play in the move.
After telling reporters at the show’s March 7 opening about the unveiling of the new phone, Motorola was expected to introduce it officially March 10.
But spokeswoman Monica Rohleder said the company is still in talks with cell carriers and will announce when the new iTunes phone is ready to go at last, possibly closer to the product’s expected retail release during the summer.
Rohleder also said it was Motorola’s own decision to hold off on rolling out the new phone, insisting that the change had nothing to do with any dispute, either with other music-capable cell phone makers or with other cellular service providers who offer Motorola phones among their handset choices.
Some reports had suggested Motorola rolling out an iTunes-capable phone would alienate carriers fearful that the iTunes phone would freeze them out of the cell phone music revenue stream. Nevertheless, numerous visitors to the Motorola CeBIT booth asked about the phone.
