Motorola Inc. (MOT) has introduced the world’s first walkie-talkie device based on Google Inc’s (GOOG) Android operating system. Named as “Motorola i1″, this handset will also be the world’s first push-to-talk Android-powered smartphone for the Integrated Digital Enhanced (iDEN) Network. The i1 will feature a 3.1-inch touch screen, Web surfing software, Wi-Fi capability and a 5-megapixel camera.
Nationwide, Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) will be the carrier partner for Motorola i1. Sprint Nextel will launch this device on its Nextel-branded network in coming summer. Nextel Direct Connect network has the largest subscriber base serving million of customers for push-to-talk technology serving million of customers throughout U.S. In addition to Sprint, the regional wireless carrier SouthernLINC Wireless, a division of Southern Company (SO) will also launch Motorola i1.
Motorola has shown initial signs of revival after it decided to develop its 3G smartphones based on Android. Motorola’s first two smartphones together generated sales of 2 million units in the fourth quarter 2009. Management declared that 20 3G high-end mobile handsets are in the offing during fiscal 2010. Currently, more than 6,000 multimedia and social networking applications are available on the Android ecosystem. Motorola is trying hard to expand this platform using its proprietary MOTODEV program.
Read the full analyst report on “MOT”
Read the full analyst report on “GOOG”
Read the full analyst report on “S”
Read the full analyst report on “SO”
Zacks Investment Research
