Verizon prepping iPhone killers from Motorola and LG?
by Michael Caputo 
posted May 26th 2007 at 3:03PM
When Verizon passed on the iPhone, was it a bad business decision or was it a part of a much larger idea for The Network to bring a next-generation music device to market? Enter Motorola and what is being described as an "iPhone Killer" by employees of both companies. Code named the "M" and designed for the mediacentric user, it's likely to impress (if they really want to kill the iPhone, anyway). Details are on the slim side, but reports suggest a 3 megapixel shooter with a large QVGA display and lots of internal storage. In addition to the M, word is that LG is preparing a CDMA version of the popular -- but -- expensive KE850 (aka Prada) for release sometime in the 3rd quarter (this one's also a potential iPhone nemesis, if you ask us). Make sure you keep a lookout for more deets![Thanks, Roc a fella]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
maikel andre @ May 26th 2007 3:55PM
I am sure it will have 3G.maybe bigger memory, OTA music and stuff.But than,they wont be able to match up the Iphone as Apple patents all the stuff on that phone like the visual voicemail,the multi-touch screen,etc..
carlo @ May 26th 2007 4:23PM
3G is a definite iPhone killer, but I'd have to say that different types of multi-touch interfacing has existed since far before the iPhone (viz. the tablet pc), and BlackBerry has a type of "visual voicemail" that is far more powerful than what I have seen Apple's to be (you can read about it in the Engadget article on "SpinVox").
elgee02 @ May 26th 2007 4:27PM
The Prada phone by LG is pretty cool, but I am not sure if Motorola is capable of producing an iPhone "killer", per se. I have lost a lot of faith in them the past few years.
carlo @ May 26th 2007 5:00PM
...I forgot to add that nothing is going to be able to kill an iPhone except for another phone by Apple.
Apple is Apple, and you can't replicate that--not saying that it's necessarily better or anything, but it just is what it is.
I use Windows Mobile and love it, but I'm gonna pick up an iPhone too when I get the chance because I also love Apple products, I don't have an iPod yet, and I already have ATT wireless service.
Nate @ May 26th 2007 5:15PM
Roc a Fella, huh? I thought he was dead.
It's good to see he's still digging up dirt.
`pisceaN>> @ May 26th 2007 7:09PM
its not hard to kil an iphone - go to asia - well whats costs more a plane ticket 1 way to asia or a iphone and a "singlebar" contract , i mean cough cingular , cough i mean at&t hahahahaaha :)
"4-74663-545537"!!!!! can u read what that says in SMS ")
C Nguyen @ May 26th 2007 7:26PM
As if the iPhone isn't crippled enough with 3rd party apps being restricted. Thank goodness the iPhone didn't launch on Verizon or else it'd get its very own handicap placard. I am sure VZW will cripple the heck out of other phones. Still bitter about the 8830 with bluetooth crippled as to not allow 3rd party GPS apps, yet Verizon Navigator isn't even out for the 8830 as far as I know.
elgee02 @ May 26th 2007 9:34PM
First off, VZ Nav isn't available on any of their PDA/smartphpones.
Secondly, what does bluetooth have to do with 3rd party GPS? The bluetooth on the 8830 isn't crippled.
Jordan @ May 26th 2007 8:35PM
The "M" is probably a CDMA version of the MOTORIZR Z8, considering that Verizon is targeting the iPhone, a multimedia phone, and Ed Zander himself proclaimed it as a "Media Monster". So, LG's Prada phone will cover the iPhones "style" aspect and the Z8 from Motorola will cover the "Media Monster" aspect of the iPhone. Too bad they can't put them together ;) .
jman @ May 26th 2007 9:37PM
Its not really the hardware thats needed to kill the iPhone. It wont even take a "Media Monster". All thats needed is a "Marketing Monster" thats bigger then Apple's. I honestly dont believe that there is a company out there that markets products better then Apple. Exampe: there are many MP3 players on the market to day that have more features then the iPod and could argue are just better MP3 players, yet Apple has almost an 80% market share on MP3 Players. If Apple can master the phone part and just the phone (meaning assuming good signal it has clear sound, and few dropped calls) there maybe no stopping them. They can add features like 3G and wireless access to the iTunes store later when the 2nd Gen iPhone comes out. (probally just before this christmas season.)
David Falcones @ May 26th 2007 11:18PM
anything with Verizon's horribly crippled UI will never beat the iPhone or any other phone for that matter
elgee02 @ May 26th 2007 11:35PM
The crippled UI bit is getting old. My phone can do that same exact things any non PDA/smartphone with any other network, VZW UI included. I can transfer my pics via bluetooth, listen to music bluetooth (great quality too), even make .mp3's as my own ringtones.
These crippled UI comments had a LOT more merit 2 years ago, but things have changed lately. It's still not perfect but no where near as "crippled" as all these other puds keep whining about.
joon @ May 26th 2007 11:39PM
still waiting for the ipod killer!
David Falcones @ May 27th 2007 12:25AM
Everytime I use my cousins enV it looks so basic. Theres no web browser (you can only look at VZW thing). I haven't seen one verizon phone that can make their own mp3's as ringtones which phone do you have? Every phone UI looks almost exactly the same and I feel like they dumbed it down because people can't handle the UI that the phone company puts into it
Greg @ May 31st 2007 12:11AM
How do you make MP3s as a ringtone?
I have a LG VX 8700.
The Roc @ May 27th 2007 12:50AM
Z6tv is not the Motorola M. Not even in the same ballpark.
thejedipunk @ May 27th 2007 8:02AM
MOTO and LG are planning to kill the iPhone based on the limited specs and the video we have on the Apple website? I still don't get why people are quick to dismiss the iPhone even though only 10 people in the world have actually used the damn thing. I can understand some users saying they have no use for it because of the lack of 3G. These users are probably business travelers and work in places were 3G is the standard.
Everybody else? Come on. The general population more than likely doesn't even know what 3G is, much less have a use for it. And those that actually know about it-especially here in America-you know we barely have 3G and your cell phone are on GSM anyway! Do I really need my network to be 3G in order to download overpriced ringtones?
The only real reasons for me not getting an iPhone is the price and the storage limit.
Niranjan @ May 27th 2007 11:59AM
Wow CDMA iPhone killer???.. i phone isnt going to be in CDMA!!!!!
http://gadgetworlds.phpnet.us/mobiles/top-3-iphone-clones-3-iphone-clones-are-out-by-now-99.php
iPhone killers are already out, only thing is that i dont think thay are that much reliable or usefull , except the samsung one
`pisceaN>> @ May 27th 2007 1:34PM
the iphone is a knock off of the lg/prada phone in a way ,which already won design awards before the iphone was even announced do ur homework YOUNGLINGS!!! Before i slay u like anakin is episode III >:]
3668-3327-843-32757433
dont fear the darkside
HeavensCloud @ May 29th 2007 4:57PM
youre all nerds. go do something.
Me? stuck here working for one of these companies you all express so much hatred and anxiety towards.
kevin @ May 28th 2007 12:42PM
The motorola iphone killer is going to be the Rokr E6 because of its features.
Niranjan @ May 28th 2007 5:20PM
ya correct..i wud prefer a rokr over that LG prada...i nvr likd LG..!!
Jamar @ May 28th 2007 10:06AM
Are people really this worked up over the iPhone? First it was a drop in stock price (a tiny dip, but still) when there was mention of a possible delay, and now Verizon's rushing out 2 phones to compete? Really, all it'd take for, say, T-Mobile to take over the multimedia phone market (where the iPhone's pointing) would be to get some of those Japanese manufacturers on board for their 3G launch. Look at what Softbank and DoCoMo are getting. For that matter, now that KDDI has launched KDDI Mobile in the States we might be seeing iPhone killers from them too.
daman22 @ May 28th 2007 11:49PM
i have a friend who works for verizon and the "m" is an entirely new phone its the not rizr z6. its supposed to be as 5mm thin and will not be running windows mobile 5 its expected around chritmas time. as for the "prada" that will be available late july to mid august. The price will be alot less then the "iphone" also, it will not be running vzw ui from what he was told but something else so watch out for these as they will be alot better than the idiot phone
BloodiedWraith @ May 30th 2007 11:42PM
The M is actually the Motorola Q9m. The other Motorola (the CDMA of the MOTORIZR) is gonna be a Mobile TV phone; the Motorola Z6tv. Also Verizon's upcoming PDA devices include a Treo 755p, a Treo 800w, the XV5800, and the XV6800.
comineeyeaha @ May 31st 2007 9:43PM
I would love to see something like this come to verizon. I really want an iPhone but with it only being cingular I don't have that option.
al9689 @ Jul 7th 2007 12:07PM
IPhone
doesn't have MMS(Picture Messaging)
Can't download music over the air(OTA)
Doesn't have GPS Capabilities(Google maps only provides instructions not a turn by turn direction)
and of course they opted to activated on the EDGE network(Slower) and don't give the excuse that the 3G network isn't available in all markets.. they could've done what the did with the Samsung Blackjack and enable it for both services..
Apple and AT&T went really wrong with this handset. There are numerous other carriers that offer all these services in one handset..
SuCrAm @ Jul 7th 2007 6:30PM
is there anywhere else i can find information on these two "killers"?