Motorola gears up to grab a stronger user base in RP

US-based technology giant Motorola Communications Philippines Inc. is poised to get back stronger user base in the Philippines and is determined to overtake the number one position of cellular phone maker Nokia in the next few years.

Newly appointed Motorola Philippines country manager Patrick Aronson said although it is harder to impose growth projection in the Philippines' cellular unit market because the user base is dominated by the second hand market, the company is confident that it can achieve market share growth in the coming years.

The Philippines was one of the markets that has been neglected by the company in the last few years, immediately after it suffered financial problems in regional economic crisis in 1997, followed by the dotcom crash in the US.

In its aggressive re-entry to the Philippine market, Aronson said Motorola will first establish its name in its core expertise in convergence of music and phone, "connecting the unconnected", introducing sleek designs in their quality phone units, and others.

A year ago, Motorola worldwide operation targeted to hit the number one position in the next 1000 days. He said in the Philippines, the 75-year old Motorola brand's presence is one of the company's advantages to gain-back the market's confidence.

He admitted that the competitors, especially Nokia is much stronger in the Philippines, but he said Motorola is determined to fight head on with the competition.

Motorola is the second largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world next to Nokia. It holds the top spot in the US, Latin America, China, Russia and Australia.

Aronson was here in Cebu recently to launch the company's latest promotional campaigns and partnership with Apple technology through the Motorola ROKR E1, the world's first mobile phone with iTunes.

Motorola's ROKR E1, enables music lovers in the Philippines, Australia, Singapore and Israel to transfer up to 50 of their favorite songs from the iTunes jukebox on their Mac or PC to their mobile phone.

The new ROKR E1 represents the ultimate convergence of mobile communications and music.

Also, the company launched the "Rock Mo To" promo using the ROKR E1, breaking down the barriers between international and local musicians.

Through the "Rock Mo 'To" promotion, it will send Motorola's consumers together with a local rock icon to experience the thrill of a Foo Fighters Concert in Australia, where they will have a chance to meet the global acclaimed artists in person.

Motorola pioneered mobile technology in the 1930s with car radios and public safety radio networks, and space-to earth communication for the Apollo program. IN the 1980s, Motorola revolutionized personalized new smart devices, networks, and software are making communications not just mobile, but seamless.