Product leak steals Motorola's thunder

NEWS Motorola's latest crop of mobile phones for 2003 will come in a broad range of colours and technologies, but they share one feature: their public debut was out of the tech giant's control after details were leaked on the internet. The handset maker has launched an investigation into how an early version of its 2003 cellular product plans got posted on the internet, said Motorola spokesman Alan Buddendeck. The photos and text appear to be of future Motorola phones that use the world's most popular phone standard, GSM, Buddenbeck said. The site detailed supposedly secret plans for a white-backlit screen on the C336 to a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone arriving in the third quarter. The material appeared first on a website originating from inside the Czech Republic, Buddenbeck said. "I don't know [if] there's going to be an aggressive move to have it pulled," he said. The plans that were posted were also very early and likely may have changed already, he added. According to the plans, the company intends to remake at least two phones from 2002. They are the sub-$100 C330, which will get a new name, C336 and a white backlighting. The V70, the grey and black cell phone that swivels open like a switchblade, will get a few upgrades as well, the plans indicate. One of Motorola's 2003 phones, the C370, will be able to download software, such as games or business applications. Wireless carriers Nextel Communications and Sprint PCS are selling over-the-air downloads, hoping to generate new revenue. Two higher-end Motorola phones for 2003, the V300 and V600, will have plug-in cameras. Selling picture messages is another new service carriers offer. Motorola also plans to sell a pair of "smart phones", which have capabilities of both a phone and a personal digital assistant. Ben Charny writes for News.com