You’ve read a lot of news over the past week and we’re going to clear it all up for you. Motorola and Apple do appear to reacting in negative ways to all the negative press over the Motorola E1 ROKR’s launch. Motorola has responded by attacking the iPod nano for its lack of multi-functional abilities, and has let slip that most future Motorola phones will offer the iTunes support, with 100 song self-imposed limit intact.
Apple has maintained silence on both fronts, not responding to Motorola’s statements. However, Cingular has stated they hope to work with Apple on a digital version of the iTunes Music Store for Cingular customers that would enabled at an increased premium direct-download of iTunes software. Currently, the iTunes software in Motorola devices could be used on any carrier.
However, it remains unclear as to how far Motorola will leverage that ability. Only the RAZR 2 has been demonstrated as being able to use iTunes software. The RAZR 2 is also expected to launch on Cingular, and further firmware revisions to it make no reference for any planned digital download support. The only requirement for a Motorola phone to run iTunes is that it be based on the E398’s core OS, something which upcoming phones like the CDMA RAZR lack.
