Motorola Rokr E1
 | |
 | |
| Developer | Motorola |
|---|---|
| Series | Rokr |
| First released | Q3 2005 |
| Related | Motorola E398 |
| Compatible networks | GSM/GPRS |
| Form factor | Bar |
| Dimensions | 108 × 46 × 20.5 mm |
| Weight | 107 g |
| Memory | microSD |
| Rear camera | VGA |
| Display | 176×220 pixels, 262,000 colors |
| Connectivity | GPRS Class 10 Bluetooth |
Motorola Rokr E1 (stylized Motorola ROKR E1), also marketed as MotoRokr E1, is a candy-bar style cell phone by Motorola, announced on September 7, 2005. The phone was conceived in a collaboration between Motorola and Apple, with the Rokr E1 integrated and compatible with iTunes,[1] for which it gained the nickname iTunes Phone. The phone features stereo speakers and an iTunes client music player built by Apple with an interface similar to that of the iPod.
The Rokr E1 had been widely expected and rumored prior to its official launch, however it received a cool reception and is considered to have been a failure.[2][3] This has been attributed to its cosmetic design, outdated hardware, and a 100-song limit.[4] Despite this, Motorola made and released a successor without Apple's involvement, Motorola Rokr E2, while Apple eventually released its own iTunes-compatible cell phone, iPhone.[3]
History
[edit]The Motorola Rokr E1 is a re-badged Motorola E398 candybar style phone (it was originally called the E790) with Apple-licensed technology to play back iTunes Music Store purchased music. The E398 itself was released in August 2004.[5][6] A partnership between the two companies had been long expected, with technology sites reporting on collaborations as far back as December 2004.
The ROKR was unveiled on September 7, 2005 at an Apple event in San Francisco. It was carried by operator Cingular in the US[3] who sold it for $250 with a two year contract.[7]
The Rokr's most high-profile rival was the Sony Ericsson W800, the first cell phone using the famous Walkman brand. The W800 had been released shortly before the announcement of the Rokr.[8][9][10]
Less than two months after launch, Cingular reduced the price of the phone to $150 amid reports that it is not selling well.[11]
Reception
[edit]While the phone equipped an upgradeable 512 MB microSD memory card (Max. 1 GB), its firmware allowed only up to 100 songs to be loaded at any time.[12] The limit hurt the ROKR's appeal. Many users also discovered that transferring music to the phone was slow compared to dedicated players, due to lack of support for Hi-Speed USB, and the E1 lacked wireless transfer.[13] The Rokr was also criticized for being too much like the preceding E398. As a result, the Rokr E1 sold below expectations despite a high-profile marketing campaign.[14] Some gave it the negative nickname 'the CROCKR'.[15]
Because of the iPod Nano unveiling on the same day, relations between Motorola and Apple were strained and Motorola CEO Ed Zander later accused Apple of purposely undercutting the Rokr.[16] Apple itself had been wary that the success of the Rokr would cannibalize sales of their own iPod.[7]
Legacy
[edit]Although the Rokr name would continue for several years in the form of Rokr E2, Rokr E8 and others, the brand continued having a bad reputation because of the E1 which was a disadvantage for Motorola against rival music-oriented phones like Sony Ericsson's 'W' (Walkman) series.[17][18]
In addition to the Rokr E1, iTunes would also be integrated with certain models of Motorola's Razr V3i and Slvr L7.[19][15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Apple, Motorola & Cingular Launch World's First Mobile Phone with iTunes". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- ^ Peter. "Flashback: the Motorola ROKR E1 was a dud, but it paved the way for the iPhone". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ a b c "Rmmbr Rokr? The first iTunes phone". NBC News. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Fri, Oct 21st 2005 10:12am-Carlo Longino (2005-10-21). "How Many Ways Are There To Say The ROKR Sucks?". Techdirt. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Motorola's 3D music phone. At Rs 15,995". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "T-Mobile announces another Bluetooth enabled mobile phone". www.geekzone.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ a b Peter. "Flashback: the Motorola ROKR E1 was a dud, but it paved the way for the iPhone". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Dog, Big (2005-11-27). "Mobile mania". TechCentral.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "So Much for Mobile Music". On my Om. 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "Music-Playing Cellphones Hit a Flat Note". AllThingsD. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Tue, Nov 1st 2005 08:25pm-Carlo Longino (2005-11-01). "ROKR Price Falls, Far And Fast". Techdirt. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "It's official: ROKR E1 iTunes phone can only store max. 100 tracks". Engadget. Sep 8, 2005. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ^ Tynan, Dan (2006-05-26). "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time". PC World. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
- ^ "Moto Blasts iRadio". Red Herring. 2 January 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
- ^ a b "Razr phone gets iTunes-lite". The Register.
- ^ Andreescu, Alex (27 September 2005). "iPod nano: The End of the Motorola-Apple Story - Ed Zander, Motorola CEO: "Screw the nano"". Softpedia. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
- ^ "Three phones that changed the world, and three phones that didn't - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ "2007 in Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Mobile Gazette - Mobile Phone News". www.mobilegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Horwitz, Jeremy (2006-02-08). "Review: Motorola SLVR L7 iTunes Mobile Phone". iLounge. Retrieved 2025-05-22.