Czech site mobilmania.cz has begun displaying information and pictures of a number of possible Motorola phones for 2003.
When confronted with rumors of upcoming products, companies are usually coy and refuse comment. But perhaps due to the scale of this particular leak, Motorola has admitted that it is investigating the incident. In doing so, it may have indirectly acknowledged the legitimacy of the rumored phones, although a spokesperson was quick to play down the importance of the information.
"I don't know (if) there's going to be an aggressive move to have (the information) pulled," Motorola spokesman Alan Buddendeck told CNET News.com. The plans that were posted were very early and likely may have changed already, he added.
Actually, Motorola's leaked portfolio, while a major source of embarrassment to the company, may not be major news to its competitors. Phone manufacturers generally have their own sources for obtaining early information on unannounced handsets of rivals--sometimes up to a year before market launches.
But for the public, the leak will have important repercussions. For one, it will remove the element of surprise useful for generating consumer buzz--a marketing tactic that rival Nokia has often used to good effect.
Buddendeck, however, points out that some of the information on mobilmania.cz appears to be outdated. A few of the handsets seem to have been publicly announced already, but the ones still officially under wraps demonstrate that color screens, wireless Java and multimedia messaging service (MMS) will be mainstay features for Motorola next year.
Some details of the handsets are below. More pictures of the handsets can be viewed on mobilmania.cz.
Motorola TA02.7
The Motorola appears to simply be the C330, which was announced way back in February. The entry- level C330 will be released in October this year.
Motorola C360R
In terms of both model number and feature set, the C360R could be the recently announced E360. Sporting 4,096-color screen and polyphonic ringtones, the E360 is set to roll out in October.
Motorola T725
From pictures and specifications, the Motorola T725 resembles the T720. The 4,096- color T720 is also expected in October.
Motorola C370
The C370, not previously revealed, appears to be a continuation of the C330, albeit with a color screen.
Motorola V.70i color
The side-swiveling V.70 took the market by storm when it was first launched in March this year. The leaked V.70i looks ready to capitalize on that with a color screen as well as cool interchangeable keypad fascias.
Motorola Paragon II
The Paragon II, if it stays on track for 2003, has to be arguably Motorola's most ambitious design to date. The handset offers a swiveling digital camera and large 16-bit color screen. From the specifications, it appears to be ready for 3G (third generation) networks.
Motorola V300
A color-screen clamshell that offers Java, triple band technology as well as GPRS, the V300 is said to have a 2003 Q1 launch date.
Motorola V600
Like the V300, the V600 makes use of Motorola's classic clamshell form factor. Both phones are said to support camera plug-ins.
1%
1%
