Motorola is currently the second largest manufacturer of cell phones in the world behind Nokia, and slightly ahead of South Korea's Samsung. In the late 1990s, Motorola faced a crisis because of two factors. Motorola lost its lead in the mobile phones business to Nokia as it failed to anticipate the worldwide shift to digital cell phones. Motorola also spent ten-plus years and $2.6 bn on the Iridium satellite phone project, which failed to
take-off after showing initial promise.
Motorola continues to be the second largest player in the world's mobile device industry with an estimated 17.1% global market share by first quarter 2005. During the quarter, the company has consolidated its leadership in the Americas by building on its number one position in North America and by regaining the number one position in Latin America. In Europe, Motorola Mobile Devices posted a record quarter.
Motorola announced 27 new mobile devices during the quarter, including new products termed SLVR, PEBL and ROKR. Motorola also announced six new mobile devices for CDMA networks, 17 for GSM, and four for 3G-UMTS/WCDMA for the first quarter 2005. Seven of the new mobile devices announced started shipping during the first quarter. Additional new device announcements have been planned in the later part of 2005.
Paul V Galvin, with his brother Joseph E Galvin, incorporated the `Galvin Manufacturing Corporation' in September 1928, in Chicago, US. The company's first product, a `battery eliminator', allowed battery-powered radios to run on household electric current. In 1930, the company successfully commercialized a car radio. Gradually the name `Motorola' was coined for the car radio, linking the ideas of `motion' and `sound'. Motorola quickly became the brand name for the company's products. |
