Motorola said today that it plans to use Microsoft’s Windows Media technology in a new lineup of music phones that it will sell alongside its iTunes-compatible phones. Motorola will launch one to three Windows Media phones in the second half of 2006, according to an executive speaking at the 3GSM trade show. The company will keep the iTunes phones as a separate line of products.
“Motorola said the new Windows Media phones have been requested by many operators which want to open their own music stores,” reports Reuters. “Microsoft is willing to sell technology that enables this to operators, while Apple has its iTunes music store to protect.” The Windows Media phones will be able to download music over the air from operators, and also directly from a computer.
