Why Motorola is Hot for Android - Page 2

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Looking to differentiate

Jha told analysts this week that a good portion of Motorola's research and development is focused on differentiating device UI and experience.

The co-CEO came aboard last August after Motorola CEO Greg Brown announced the company was planning to spin-off the mobile device business in 2009. That plan is now on hold due to the rocky economic climate that prompted big layoffs and cost cutting actions in late 2008.

Jha spent his first three months evaluating the mobile division, products and development teams. Shortly afterward he announced Motorola would pare down its mobile OS use to a few platforms, focusing primarily on Android and Windows Mobile.

Co-CEO Brown told investors Tuesday that Motorola remains committed to Windows Mobile but, as compared to Android, Android will be more competitive in the next year.

"More of our effort and focus in 2009 is going to Android, but in 2010 when Windows 7 will become available, we will participate in a more focused way in Windows Mobile 7," Brown said during the call.

The goal, meanwhile according to Jha, is to pump Motorola's lower-tier products with more Web and communications capabilities and shore up interactive capabilities on mid-to higher-end products as well.

In simple terms it plans to make its cheaper devices more smartphone like, and make more high-end smartphone offerings above a $50 price point.

IDC analyst Ryan Reith said he's impressed with Jha's approach so far and that the steady product strategy is good given Motorola's recent history.

"Over the last two years, before Jha came onboard, Motorola's would apply some quick application solution to try and solve a big issue," said Reith. That approach, in part, lead to its decline in the industry.

"Now they're taking their time and in the big picture it's only been six months since Jha came in to right the ship," he said.

"They need to take a year to get where they need to be," he added.

As Jha reminded analysts this week, Motorola was the company that designed the fastest selling smartphone at one point in its history.

"This is a company that delivered RAZR and we have I think world class design capabilities and we will be able to use Android and bring it lower down into tiers and differentiate versus our competitors," he said.