Ultra-Thin Motorola SLVR L7 Debuts Exclusively at Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless, the No. 1 U.S. mobile provider, has started offering its customers the Slvr, an ultra-thin phone from Motorola loaded with the popular iTunes music-playing software from Apple Computer Inc., the companies said in a statement.
Music is seen in the wireless industry as one of the hottest new cell phone features as service providers aim to attract new subscribers and boost revenue with services beyond voice.
Cingular already sells the Rokr, Motorola’s first iTunes music phone, which disappointed some fans of Apple’s iPod music player and Motorola’s flagship Razr phone, as it resembled neither. The Slvr takes its cue from Motorola’s hit-selling Razr cell phone, and is the company’s second take on a device that includes Apple’s music software.
Redefining thin at less than half an inch and weighing only 96 grams (3.4 ounces), SLVR’s design includes sleek metal housing, a vivid color display and precision cut keypad.
Although extremely thin, SLVR is fat with multimedia features.
Motorola SLVR is packaged with everything you need to transfer your favorite iTunes collections from your PC to your wireless phone; including VGA camera, video capture and playback, and a pre-installed 512 MB MicroSD card, ideal for experiencing Cingular’s coolest downloadable content from ringtones, games, graphics and more, A/C charger, USB cable, stereo headset, 3.5 MM headset adapter, Additionally, SLVR delivers iTunes functionality, giving music lovers the ability to carry up to 7 hours of music or 100 of their favorite songs.
For more information and specification of the product, please visit www.hellomoto.com, www.cingular.com or www.cingularsleek.com and iTunes www.itunes.com.
Motorola, which had said it was disappointed with how the Rokr phone was marketed, plans to focus more on the design than the music player in marketing the candy bar-shaped Slvr.
The first thing that is going to attract people to this phone is the form factor, said Steve Lalla, Motorola’s general manager for mass market products. We think its going to start with the design and consumers will double-click to look deeper at the features.
In the design tradition of the Motorola RAZR V3, SLVR is also a game changer, said Richard Chin, corporate vice president, global product marketing, Motorola, Inc.
SLVR redefines what consumers will expect from the candy bar form factor and proves you can have an ultra-thin, high-style mobile with a compelling feature set.
We are excited to bring to market our second device with iTunes. SLVR offers consumers the same iTunes experience they already know and love, now on their wireless phone. We continue to be in sync with how consumers prefer to get their music, said Marc Lefar, chief marketing officer, Cingular Wireless. SLVR signifies another great example of how Cingular is raising the bar as the leader in unique wireless music innovation.
Cingular, which enjoyed a sales boost as the first U.S. provider to sell the Razr at the end of 2004; has a similar agreement to be the only U.S. operator to sell the Slvr for an undisclosed period.
Cingular, unlike major rivals Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless, does not yet have a service that offers wireless music downloads. To use the music feature consumers would need to transfer songs from their computer via cable.
But while Cingular has been behind these rivals in the development of high-speed networks for advanced services such as music and video downloads, it has been able on occasion to secure new devices earlier because of the network technology it uses.
The Slvr currently works only on networks based on GSM, the world’s most popular cell phone technology standard, which is used by Cingular and European and Asian operators.
Verizon Wireless, which uses CDMA wireless technology, waited about a year before it began selling the Razr.
But Motorola’s upcoming Q phone and e-mail device, whose tiny computer-like keyboard makes sending e-mails easier, is expected to be launched on a CDMA network first. GSM users will have to wait.
Analysts expect Verizon Wireless will be first to sell the Q and note that its high-speed network would be more suitable for downloading e-mails than the Cingular network.
Offering a host of connectivity options, the Motorola SLVR delivers hands- free conversations via Bluetooth wireless technology. Cingular customers can also get the quickest access to their favorite online content with Cingular’s new MEdia Net, which dramatically reduces the number of clicks it takes to gain access to news and entertainment headlines, sports scores, financial quotes, local weather, and more – all from the phone.
Slvr Features:
- iTunes Digital Jukebox – play, sort, store and manage music
- VGA Camera with 4x digital zoom, video capture and playback
- Bluetooth® wirelesss synchronization
- Pre-installed 512 MB Micro SD card for extended memory
- Store up to 100 songs on removable Micro SD card
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Brilliant TFT color display with 262k colors
- Voice activated dialing and speakerphone
- Weight: 3.5 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 1.9 x 0.45 inches
- Talk Time: Up to 6 hours
- Standby Time: Up to 17 days
- Quad Band International Phone – GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Pricing and Availability:
Motorola SLVR is available exclusively in the U.S. through select Cingular Wireless retail locations or via www.cingular.com for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
Motorola’s Lalla said the company plans to expand the Slvr, which is already being sold in several European countries, beyond GSM technology but did not give a time frame.
Cingular is a venture of AT&T and BellSouth. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group.