Motorola back with Robby?

Hearing Motorola could possibly be back with RGM, not sure if it would be this year or next, or even off-road. Heard it would be promoting their new GPS Navigation Device "MOTONAV"

While not packing nearly the pizazz offered in the AURA, Motorola's two freshest navigators don't look half bad. Up first is the dead-simple MOTONAV TN20, which provides spoken street names and turn-by-turn directions, NAVTEQ 2D / 3D maps of the continental US and a 3.5-inch touch panel. The slightly more sophisticated MOTONAV TN30 picks up where the TN20 left off and adds in maps of Puerto Rico and Canada, four million searchable points of interest, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth handsfree support. Both systems include a SD slot for updating maps, a mini USB port for charging, speed limit display with warnings and the obligatory on-screen speed, distance, arrival time, elevation, and distance traveled tidbits

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Permalink Reply by deantac on October 30, 2008 at 5:29pm

I hope his plan to turn things around includes Robby.

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Permalink Reply by RGordonNo#1 on October 30, 2008 at 6:18pm

Motorola loses a cool $397M in Q3, delays handset division spinoff
by Chris Ziegler, posted Oct 30th 2008 at 11:27AM

Now that the books have been cooked to a delicious golden brown, Motorola has revealed its third quarter earnings today -- and for consumers and shareholders alike, the news isn't particularly awesome. First off, they've lost $397 million in the quarter, compared with $40 million in net earnings (black ink, not red) in the same quarter a year ago. Secondly, while they've announced today that they plan to develop a full range of Android-powered handsets in 2009, they're not coming quickly; they're expected in the second half of the year at the earliest, and when you factor in the inevitable delays, that could realistically mean 2010 for some of the models. What's more, they've announced a belt-tightening plan to cut $800 million in 2009 expenditures, which will inevitably lead to some morale problems out in Schaumburg (for those who are still employed). Finally -- and we're not sure if this is ultimately good or bad news -- co-CEO Sanjay Jha has decided to hold off on selling the handset division until some time after the third quarter of 2009 due to the "macro-economic environment," which we think is code for "we couldn't give it away right now." Keep fightin', Moto.

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Permalink Reply by Lance on October 31, 2008 at 12:27pm

Why does it seem these companies are so fragile now? They along with GM and many many others have been around forever and at the first sign of trouble it seems like they are about to fold. Is it more that CEO's want to protect their investments or has these companies been so mismanaged that anything less than overwhelming success is cause for concern? I'm sorry, I don't believe these companies are in as bad shape as we're told.

With Motorola, you see their products EVERYWHERE. I mean, how is it that they are selling so much and still can't stay afloat?

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Permalink Reply by IndyTim on October 31, 2008 at 2:19pm

To much fat in the company. 10 years ago their business model revolved around Handsets and today I think those account for only about 40% of sales and about 85% of costs. They will eventually spinoff off their handset division which will remove most of the fat...The spinoff (Handset division) will be junk...but what remains of Motorola after this spinoff will be a technolgy company that will be lean and be able to compete again......

Margins in handsets are VERY VERY low and the one thing I see...people are having a hard time figuring out how to be sucesfull manufacturing them.....

Nonetheless.......still a company that has money to spend on marketing (7.1 billion in their bank account)...Be nice to see about 15-20 Mil go to Robby for Sponsorship....