Motorola Inc.(pronounced Motorola incorporated) is a now-defunct American company that was once one of the world leaders in the field of integrated telecommunications and embedded electronic systems. In 2010, it ranked 110th on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies in the United States. The headquarters was located in Schaumburg, near Chicago, Illinois (USA).
The history of Motorola dates back to 1928, when Galvin Manufacturing was founded on September 25 by two brothers, Paul and Joseph Galvin. The profile of the new enterprise was the design and production of electronic devices.
They start their business not from scratch, but with a foundation. So they previously bought a factory for the production of rectifiers AC. By this time, Paul had some experience, although negative: he was producing batteries for portable radios.
However, the beginning of this enterprise was not particularly rosy. The company's assets contained only $565, equipment for setting up production network sources power supply and standard mains rectifier design.
The first products were rectifiers, which made it possible to power a portable radio from the network. Later, radios were added to them, namely two years after the appearance of the new company. It was an inexpensive and, most importantly, practical device for use in cars, costing $110.
From this moment on they began to use the name Motorola. To highlight the types of products for car radios, the brothers introduced a new name - Motorola, which was formed by two English words Motion (movement) and Victrola (at that time the name of the most famous radio). Later, the line of radios was replenished with portable ones.
Six years later, the brothers release a special solution designed for police officers. They were new radios that were tuned to only one wavelength.
The matter did not end there; foreseeing the outbreak of World War II, Paul began constructing a portable army radio station. The main objective of the new development was the ability to provide duplex communication.
A year later, an updated series of radios appeared on sale. At that time, almost half of American families had at least one radio in their home. The brothers want their other half to have them too. To this end, in 1938, an active nationwide advertising campaign was launched, which used road billboards, street advertising and, of course, advertising in print publications of those times.
And by 1940, the company's income reached almost 10 billion dollars, thanks to government military orders. At the same time, Daniel Noble, a pioneer in the field of radio communications and semiconductor technology, joined the company as head of the scientific department.
Three years later, a modified walkie-talkie called Walkie-talkie appeared, becoming even smaller in size and more advanced. It is interesting that its appearance on the market assigned the name of devices to an entire class, just like copiers in Russia (after the name of the company that produces Xerox copiers) or jeeps (the Jeep car brand).
The war ends, and Paul Galvin begins to search for new markets. So in 1947 Golden View was created, which became the first television Motorola. AND new product is becoming widespread, and all thanks to its low price ($179.95 versus 300 for a competitor’s TV). The same year is also known for the fact that Paul Galvin decided to change the name of the company, calling it more concisely and briefly - Motorola Inc.
In 1948, agreements were signed between Motorola and Ford and Chrysler. According to the terms of the documents, Motorola began supplying car radios for subsequent installation on manufactured vehicles. A little later, a third company was added to these two companies - General Motors (GM).
A year later, under the leadership of Daniel Noble, Motorola's research and development facility was created in Phoenix, Arizona. And thanks to his efforts, the company becomes one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers. At that time, Motorola employed 9,325 people in its production facilities, and sales reached almost $178,000,000.
In 1956, a device was born that made a revolution: the pager. The new device made it possible to transmit radio messages to a specific person who had the same device. They were the first to become interested in the hospital's new product.
In the same year, Motorola launched a more massive production of transistors and semiconductors to meet demand among other partner companies. The company becomes a supplier of semiconductors to other manufacturers.
In the coming years, the company has been pursuing a development strategy in several areas and directions at once. Radio receivers are being improved, and the production of synchronous generators, which are used in cars, begins.
It is thanks to Motorola that today we know about such a technical innovation as the CRT (used in color TVs). After the invention of the tube, the first transistor color televisions appeared on the market. Also, the company's products find their place in space, used in NASA programs.
For example, in 1962, a Motorola repeater was installed on the Mariner 2 spacecraft that took part in the flight to Venus. NASA's collaboration with Motorola made it possible to provide radio communications for this expedition over a distance of 87 million kilometers. In 1969, cooperation continues. And this time, the first words spoken from the Moon by astronaut Neil Amstrong are transmitted to Earth via a Motorola repeater.
And two years earlier, Motorola began implementing a plan to expand its international activities. As part of this program, numerous enterprises were created in countries such as England, Australia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Separately, I would like to note that joint ventures were created in Japan and France specifically for the production of automotive products.
In 1974, the company again made a revolution by creating its first microprocessor under the symbol 6800. Later the company would become one of the leaders in this market.
However, we are more familiar with Motorola as a brand under which mobile phones are produced. The company stood at the very origins of the emergence cellular communication, however, like a mobile phone.
The revolution was simple - Motorola released an almost pocket-sized phone, weighing only one kilogram (!). The problem was that before the advent of Motorola phones, only cordless phones for cars weighing more than 10 kg were on sale. They were produced by AT&T and were intended to be installed in the trunk of a car. Actually, the Motorola DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) that appeared, weighing only 1 kilogram, was literally in demand.
In Motorola's history, creating the first phone was a fairly expensive project, requiring 10 years of research and a budget of $100 million. Interestingly, the creation was carried out in parallel with competitors from AT&T Bell Laboratories (they began work on creating the first telephone back in 1946). That's why on April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper's first call was made to Joel Engel of AT&T.
By 1980, the company reaches sales of $3,098,763,000. The staff already numbers 71,500 employees. The priority direction of development is increasing output electronic components for the automotive industry. Modules are produced specifically for Chrysler, Ford, General Motors (GM) electronic control engines that made it possible to use fuel efficiently.
The next decade the company's attention was paid to the development of cellular communications and improvement mobile devices. The result is that in 1983 a lighter mobile phone was released, and in 1985 contracts were concluded with operators to provide cellular communications in Philadelphia, New York, Hong Kong and Beijing.
In the early 90s, sales reached $10,885,000,000, and the company had 105,000 employees.
And the company opened the new millennium by releasing the first phone with a built-in FM tuner. We know it under the name Motorola V2288.
Over the ensuing years, many different new phone products from the company appeared, but Motorola was never able to gain a foothold among the sales leaders. Although nowadays mobile phones are almost the main source of income for the company.
Today, the company's products are presented in the field of radio communications, wireless broadband solutions and, most importantly, telecommunications equipment.
Origin of the name
The company got its name from one of its first products - - vehicle, plus the ending -ola of the brand name of the then popular home radio Victrola.
Structure
Motorola had 3 key divisions:
- Mobile solutions for enterprises ( Enterprise Mobility Solutions)
- Mobile solutions for home and network operators ( Home & Networks Mobility)
- Mobile devices ( Mobile Devices)
Mergers and acquisitions
In 1999, the discrete semiconductor manufacturing division was separated into a separate company. In 2004, the integrated semiconductor manufacturing division was separated into Freescale Semiconductor. In 2006, Freescale Semiconductor was purchased by a consortium led by Blackstone Group LP, making it the largest private acquisition of a technology company and one of the top 10 largest deals in the world.
Since the early 2000s, Motorola Inc. begins to regularly incur losses, after which several restructurings and disposal of unprofitable divisions took place. Since the mid-2000s, the company's main problems have been related to losses in the production division mobile phones, which by early 2011 was finally spun off into a separate company, Motorola Mobility.
On September 19, 2006, Motorola acquired Symbol Technologies, Inc. (the Symbol trademark belonged to The Enterprise Mobility Company; headquartered in the USA). Symbol has held approximately 900 patents in the fields of laser scanning, barcode imaging, RFID, laser projection displays, mobile computing technologies, wireless technologies and produced more than 7 million. barcode scanners and data collection terminals. The transaction amount was approximately $3.9 billion ($15 per share).
It was divided into two independent companies Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility (the separation process was completed on January 4, 2011). Shareholders of Motorola Inc. received shares of both the first and second companies. The primary assignee of most of the intellectual property and assets of Motorola Inc. became Motorola Solutions. Motorola Mobility was subsequently sold to Google in a $12.5 billion deal that closed in May 2012.
In July 2010, Nokia Siemens Networks reached an agreement with Motorola Inc. on the acquisition of part of Motorola Solutions' wireless business network equipment for $1.2 billion.
On January 4, 2011, the process of dividing Motorola Inc. was completed. into two independent companies Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility.
In August 2011, it was announced that an agreement had been reached for the takeover of Motorola Mobility by Google; transaction value - $12.5 billion.
On January 30, 2014, Lenovo entered into a deal with Google to purchase Motorola Mobility for $2.9 billion.
Lenovo will fully retain the current Motorola brand, as it did in 2005 with the purchase of ThinkPad from IBM. Google will retain the vast majority of Motorola's patents, which will continue to be used to protect the entire Android ecosystem.
Motorola in Russia
The company's representative office in Russia was opened in 1993, and in the second half of the 2000s the number of its staff reached up to a thousand people. However, the company then ceded its share Russian market mobile phones to competitors, and decided to close its sales office in Moscow (Motorola Mobility sales office) from January 1, 2011. At the same time, the representative office of Motorola Solutions (solutions for corporate customers and businesses to create iDEN infrastructure) continues to operate in the Russian Federation.
Interesting facts
- In addition to cell phones, Motorola produced: modems for networks cable television, devices for charging household batteries (galvanic cells), equipment for WiMAX networks, repeaters and professional radio stations.
- In almost all official photos of Motorola phones, the time on the display is 11:35 AM or the length of the track in the player is 11:35. It was at 11:35 a.m. on April 3, 1973, that Motorola employee Martin Cooper made the world's first cell phone call to the head of Bell Labs' research department, Joel Engel.
Milestones in the history of Motorola
1928
Paul W. Galvin (1895-1959) and his brother Joseph E. Galvin (1899-1944) purchase the alternating current rectifier manufacturing business of the bankrupt Stuart Storage Battery Company in Chicago, Illinois. On September 25, 1928, they established the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation.
1928
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation is leasing space at 847 West Harrison Street, Chicago. There are five employees and the first week's payroll is $63. The corporation's assets included $565 in cash, equipment valued at $750, and the design of a "battery substitute" (rectifier), the company's first product.
1930
Net sales are $287,256.
1930
Galvin Manufacturing Corporation produces the first practical and affordable car radio. Paul Galvin comes up with the name Motorola for the company's new products, combining the concepts of "motion" and "radio".
1936
The Police Cruiser, an amplitude modulation car radio tuned to a single frequency to receive police communications, represents Motorola's first foray into new area radio communications.
1937
A new series of consumer radios has been announced. More than half of American families already have radios. Motorola aims to provide them for the other half.
1938
A nationwide advertising campaign was launched using print media, road billboards and street advertising.
1940
Net sales volume: $9,936,558. Number of employees: 985 people.
1940
Daniel Noble (1902-1980), pioneer of developments in radio communications with frequency modulation and semiconductor technology, joins Motorola as an executive scientific research. A Communications Division is being created. In 1941, a branch corporation responsible for selling Motorola Communications and Electronics Inc. products was organized.
1940
Motorola is developing a handheld transceiver radio for the first time for the US Army Signal Corps. The portable amplitude modulation walkie-talkie "Handy-Talk" turns into one of the symbols of the Second World War.
1941
Motorola's first integrated amplitude modulation police transceiver radio system is being installed in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Motorola introduces the first commercial series of FM radio transceivers.
1943
The first portable FM radio, the walkie-talkie, which fits in a backpack, was developed at Motorola by Dan Noble. Together with the hand-held Handy-Talk, it played a vital role in communications on battlefields throughout Europe and the South Pacific during World War II.
1947
The Motorola trademark is already so widely known that the company's name, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, is being changed to Motorola Incorporated.
1948
Motorola's first entry into the television business, the $179 Golden View VT71, is the first TV model priced under $200.
1948
Motorola begins supplying car radios to Ford and Chrysler plants for installation in cars. Soon the company took over the production of all radios that General Motors installed.
1949
With the Dispatcher series of FM transceiver radios, the company has taken advantage of the fact that the range of frequencies allocated to the rapidly growing number of industrial and commercial users has been expanded.
1949
Daniel Noble opens Motorola's research and development facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Anticipating the enormous potential of newly invented transistors, he helped Motorola become one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers.
1950
Net sales volume - $177,104,669. Number of employees - 9,325 people.
1955
Motorola is adopting the company's new M logo, which resembles a bat.
1956
Motorola's first consumer product to use transistors was a car radio. It is more compact and durable than previous models, and also consumes less energy from the car's battery.
1956
Another radio communication device, a compact radio called a “pager,” makes it possible to transmit radio messages selectively to a specific person who carries it with him. Hospitals are among the first to adopt pagers.
1956
Robert W. Galvin is named President of Motorola Incorporated. Paul W. Galvin is elected Chairman of the Board and becomes Chief Administrator.
1956
Whereas Motorola previously produced transistors and semiconductors exclusively for use in its own radios, televisions and other communications devices, the company is now becoming a commercial manufacturer and supplier of semiconductors for sale to other manufacturers. A Semiconductor Products Division is created.
1959
Motorola introduces Motrac, the first two-way mobile radio with an all-transistor power supply and receiver. Low power consumption allows you to use it without turning on the car engine. Although the Motrac costs twice as much as its predecessor models, it sells extremely well.
1959
The X-11 portable pocket radio is Motorola's first all-transistor radio.
1960
Net sales volume is $299,065,922. Number of employees is 14,740 people.
1961
With the development of a variety of low-cost technologies in the production of silicon rectifiers used in automotive synchronous generators, a synchronous generator is becoming an economical replacement for a less durable auto generator. The Automotive Products Division begins production of synchronous generators, establishing the company as a supplier of under-hood electronics.
1962
On the flight to Venus spacecraft Mariner 2 used a Motorola repeater to provide radio communications over a distance of 54 million miles (87 million km).
1962
Motorola introduces the Handy-Talk NT-200 FM, an all-transistor portable transceiver radio. Weighing 33 ounces (936 g), the radio is called the “brick” due to its shape and robust construction.
1964
As a joint development with National Video, Motorola creates the first rectangular cathode ray tube for a color television. This CRT is quickly becoming the industry standard.
1965
As semiconductor production costs fall, their use in consumer electronics products increases, creating a large market. Motorola responds with a full range of cheap transistors in plastic housings. The design of these devices is eventually adopted by the entire semiconductor industry.
1967
A circle is added to the company logo.
1967
Motorola introduces the Quasar series of color televisions, America's first color television receivers built entirely on transistors. They are designed for ease of repair, a feature highlighted by the "Works in a Drawer" trademark.
1967-1978
Motorola is expanding its international operations, establishing facilities in many countries, including Australia, England, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Joint ventures are being created in France and Japan to produce automobiles and other products.
1969
Astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words spoken on the Moon are transmitted to Earth through a repeater designed and manufactured by Motorola's Government Electronic Products Division.
1969
The new portable radio with FM released by Motorola is half the size and lighter than the previous model NT-200. This new model, the HT-220 Handy-Toky, is based on the use of two specially designed integrated circuits, replacing a total of 51 independent parts.
1970
Net sales volume is $796,418,521. Number of employees is 36,000 people.
1971
A Motorola radio is installed on the Rover lunar rover to provide voice communication at a distance of 240 thousand miles (386 thousand km) between the Earth and the Moon. This receiver is one hundred times more sensitive than a typical car radio and yet weighs only one and a half pounds (680 g).
1974
Motorola begins production of its first microprocessor, the 6800. Among the first buyers are companies in the automotive, communications, industrial, and office equipment industries.
1974
Motorola's enterprises for the production of household televisions, including those produced under the famous Quasar brand, have been sold.
1976
Motorola opens its global headquarters on 325 acres in Chamburg, just outside Chicago, Illinois.
1977
An experimental radiotelephone system is being tested, called “cellular” by analogy with “cells” - the layout of base stations.
1978
Motorola is introducing a series of computer-controlled radio systems and communications devices based on the use of trunking. The trunking method allows operators to rationally use congested sections of the range.
1979
Motorola introduces its first 16-bit microprocessor, the 68000. With speeds of up to 2 million instructions per second, it can be used to run programs for scientific development, data processing and business.
1979
The overall quality of Motorola's products and operations is reviewed in detail at a meeting of corporate officials. By the mid-1980s, a company-wide quality improvement program had been launched.
1980
Net sales volume is $3,098,763,000. Number of employees is 71,500 people.
1980
Photos from Saturn taken by Voyager I are received and sent back to Earth over a billion miles away. Motorola equipment installed on Voyager I and II is the primary means of communication with Earth.
1980
Electronic components for the automotive industry are becoming one of the priority markets for Motorola microprocessors. Electronic engine control modules that allow efficient and economical fuel consumption are produced for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.
1983
After years of development, the first DynaTAC cellular system is now operational. 1984 Motorola creates the first 32-bit microprocessor, the MC68020, which contains 200,000 transistors to access up to 1 billion bits of memory. The MC68HC11 microcontroller was also released.
1984
Motorola creates the first 32-bit microprocessor, the MC68020, which contains 200,000 transistors to access up to 1 billion bits of memory. The MC68HC11 microcontroller was also released.
1985
Contracts have been signed to provide cellular systems for New York, Philadelphia, Beijing and Hong Kong, as well as to expand the configuration of systems in the UK, Scandinavia and Japan. Cellular Group and Motorola Computer Systems merge to form General Systems Group.
1986
Motorola is investing more than $40 million in education for its employees. Training and Educational Programs Motorola Training and Education Center (MTEC) becomes the central authority and is located in the new Galvin Center for Continuing Education. In 1990, MTEC became Motorola University.
1987
Motorola releases its latest model car radios. New products include instrumentation for cars and trucks, as well as on-board computers.
1988
Motorola wins the first Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award, initiated by the US Congress to support American businesses in their pursuit of product quality.
1989
The smallest and lightest MicroTAC cell phone launched on the market.
1990
Net sales volume is $10,885,000,000. Number of employees is 105,000 people.
1990
The Electronic Products Division supplies radio equipment for the Galileo, Magellan and Hubble Space telescopes under government orders.
1991
Development continues satellite system communications, which will provide the ability to connect a subscriber anywhere in the world. The Iridium system consists of small low-orbit satellites linked into a single network.
1991
Exhibition displays at the new Motorola Electronics Museum highlight the close connection between the evolution of Motorola and the electronics industry
1993
The new Power PC microprocessor, a collaboration between Apple Computer, IBM and Motorola, uses Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) technology to improve performance.
1993
Annual demand for pagers in China increases to almost 4 million. Motorola produces pagers in China, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, as well as in Europe and the Americas.
1994
The Messaging, Information and Media Sector (MIMS) is beginning to develop technologies and markets for non-voice wireless messaging and multimedia products.
1994
The number of company employees working in the Asia-Pacific region is 33,000 people.
1995
The Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) combines wireless data delivery and messaging technologies.
1996
The StarTAC handheld phone is the world's smallest and lightest satellite phone.
1996
Motorola announces the creation satellite communications M-Star for global transmission of voice, video and high-speed data.
1996
Radio Forte with software for handwriting recognition and two-way radio function, wins the Industrial Design Award for Communication Equipment.
1997
Christopher Galvin, grandson of founder Paul Galvin, named Director of Motorola
1998
Motorola is reshaping its communications business to efficiently allocate resources and respond quickly and adequately to customer expectations.
1999
The smallest and lightest cell phone v3688 was launched on the market.
2000
The world's first commercial cell phone to support GPRS technology was the MOTOROLA Timeport P7389i. In 2000, it was discontinued and replaced by the more advanced MOTOROLA Timeport 260.
2000
iRadio™ Telematics Systems was launched. A Java-based software platform for motorists allows you to connect to individually selected local services, quickly receive almost any information about the location of the car and the shortest route to a specified location, listen to music of your own choice, engage in e-commerce and use by email. And all this is thanks to the latest electronic devices with speech recognition function and some other capabilities - right in the car, without being distracted from driving.
2001
The Motorola V100 Personal Communicator has been released - a mobile organizer and a mobile terminal in one device.
2002
Motorola has launched its most advanced and most expressive mobile phone yet - the Motorola V70. Small, light and subtly stylish phone. Interchangeable metal display rings, blue backlit keyboard, along with an expanded set of functions will allow even the most progressive young people to stand out from the crowd. This device is simply magnificent and superbly simple!
2002
The world's first wireless cable modem gateway.
In 2002, Motorola released the SURFboardAE SBG1000 cable modem gateway, which was the first in the world to combine the functions of a high-speed cable router and switch Ethernet networks and a wireless home gateway. Thanks to him, cable television subscribers were able to use their cable system For sharing to the Internet and wireless connection into a network of several computers.
2003
Introduced in 2003, cellular Motorola phone The A760 was the world's first device to combine an operating room Linux system and Java technology, providing full PDA functionality.
2004
In 2004, Motorola introduced the RAZR V3 cell phone, an ultra-thin quad-band folding device in a metal case. The 13.9mm thick phone featured an aircraft-grade aluminum body and a host of other design and engineering touches, such as a nickel-plated keyboard.
2005
In 2005, wireless mobile network Motorola MOTOMESH was one of the first mesh networks to integrate single point access licensed broadband mobile radio, operating at 4.9 GHz, and an unlicensed Wi-Fi radio. Mesh (mixed) networks allowed public safety officials to quickly create a network wireless devices, integrated into a radio relay communication system.
2006
In 2006, Motorola introduced a smartphone in Asia with touch screen MING. It is equipped with advanced handwriting recognition software and recognizes more than 10,000 Chinese characters.
2007
In 2007, Motorola and Symbol Technologies, Inc. introduced products and systems designed for enterprises to meet their communications and data processing needs, including simplified mobile computing, advanced data collection and radio frequency identification (RFID).
2007
Motorola was ranked fourth on CRO magazine's list of America's 100 Best Corporate Citizens. It includes companies that have achieved success in the areas of governance, environmental protection, community service and employment. It is worth noting that in 2007, Motorola took fourth place on the list for the second year in a row and was in the top ten companies for the fourth time in its history.
Few know where this leader and pioneer began mobile communications. Yes, it is Motorola that is considered the pioneer of full-fledged mobile communications. But the brand's history does not begin with mobile phones. Let's go in order.
Paul Galvin
The future founder of the company is interesting enough as a person to pay special attention to him.
The innovator was born on June 29, 1895 at Harvard. Already at the age of 13, instead of going to school, the young man was engaged in trading at the local train station. At that time, he only had popcorn in his assortment, and local authorities often chased the boy off the platform. Over time, the station chief came to terms.
For the next six years, until entering university, Paul made an honest living by replacing cotton wool with sandwiches or ice cream. He had a great sense of society, but had no intention of legitimizing his business.
In 1917 he went to serve. During the First World War, Galvin rose to the rank of captain and returned to a quiet civilian life. However, his subsequent employment at a battery factory did not kill the young man’s desire for his own business.
First attempts
At production, he meets Edward Stewart, with whom they opened their own battery production company. True, three years later the government sealed the office right along with Paul’s coat. The culprit is non-payment of taxes.
Two years later, the former partners gather in Chicago and again step on the same rake. Battery production again, but this time for two years.
The interesting thing is that after putting the company’s property up for auction, Galvin collects the last $750 and buys his own equipment from the state for the production of network power supplies.
Paul Galvin (left) and Joseph Galvin (right)
His younger brother, Joseph Galvin, came to the rescue. He became Paul's new partner, simultaneously investing $565 in the new company. So in 1928, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation appeared.
This time everything was done according to the letter of the law. From the surviving documents it follows that at the start there were only five employees subordinate to them, who received $63 in salary in the first week.
The company was engaged in the production of network rectifiers. They allowed radios to be plugged into an outlet, thereby eliminating the need for batteries. The business was very break-even, but not very profitable, which prompted Paul to search for new niches.
This is impossible! But we will do...
In the early twenties of the last century, America literally lived on cars and radio. These were two new products that fairly broad masses could afford. But combining these two directions became problematic.
Interference from the generator and ignition turned the radio signal into mush, so you had to turn off the engine to listen to the wave. But one of the company's engineers, William Lear, dared to suggest that Paul concentrate on developing a car radio.
If such a radio is possible, it will be immediately banned, because it will distract the driver from the road.
But despite his harsh remarks, Paul soon changes his point of view. After all, he came across an advertisement where for $240 it was offered to install a converted radio in a car.
Then, in his typical style, he simply set a goal for his employees: “make a car radio for less than $240.”
Surprising, but doesn't always work
During the preparation of the material, several references to a rather strange incident were found. Absolutely different sources they said that one finished copy caught fire almost around the corner after installation.
What is known for sure is that the team worked in a very difficult mode. Development was carried out at an accelerated pace. The company was targeting the Radio Manufacturers Association convention in Atlantic City.
The working model was ready two days before the event, and Paul had to do the final debugging on the road. Yes, the first copy was installed in his car.
Already together with his wife, Galvin demonstrated the development to everyone. And despite the existing skepticism, the new product was greeted very cordially. And the cost of the finished copy was estimated at $110.
The emergence of Motorola
It was decided to release radio receivers on the market under a new brand, which was called Motorola.
According to the first version, the word was created by merging motion and Victrola. The first signified movement, and the second was the brand of the most popular stationary radios.
If we talk about another version, it says that instead of motion, it is based on the word motor. Although there are supporters of the third theory. Motor + ola, the latter was often used to refer to radio equipment.
And despite the fact that the first receiver went on sale in 1930, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation existed until 1947, until it received the name of its most popular brand.
War or business?
In 1936, Galvin and his family went to Europe. A wonderful vacation is overshadowed by the feeling that new hostilities will soon begin. It seemed to many that these were the ravings of a former officer. But he was determined to create systems for military communications.
These roads, the autobahns, were not built just for cars. These are roads for military equipment.
At that time, the US Army had bulky communication systems operating in the “listen, talk” mode. And Paul set a new task for his engineers: “to create a new device with duplex radio communication (as in telephone conversation)».
In 1940, Professor Daniel Noble, a true pioneer in the world of radio communications, joined the work. The first Handie-talkie was released the same year. And during military operations, the US Army becomes the main customer of the company.
Handie-talkie 
Walkie-talkie
In 1943, a longer-range communication system, Walkie-talkie, was released. At the same time, due to the ban on the collection and sale of civilian cars, all car radios in warehouses were converted into stationary ones. This move made it possible to maintain control over the distribution network.
More is not better
The war was approaching the end and the question of finding a new development path for the company was brewing. At that time, televisions were produced by RCA, had a diagonal of 10 inches and cost $300. Paul again sets the engineers a challenge: “make a 7.5-inch TV that costs $175.95.”
Despite the skepticism of the team, the idea turned out to be brilliant. The company was actually able to release a television receiver with the parameters Paul required. During the first year of sales (1947-1948), 100,000 copies were sold, the device became truly widespread.
At the same time, it was possible to acquire the assets of Detrola, which had a direct agreement with the automaker Ford. As a result of the deal, Motorola was able to begin supplying radio tape recorders directly to auto production, so that buyers received cars with a radio.
Family Affair
Paul Galvin hired his only son, Robert, into the company. And far from an important post. Robert became involved with Galvin Manufacturing Corporation at the age of 16 when he began working in a warehouse.
Initially, the work was supposed to be temporary, but the young man remained in the family business, gradually independently climbing all the steps of the career ladder.
Paul Galvin with his son Robert Galvin
And in 1948, when Paul was 53 years old, his son Robert became executive vice president of Motorola. The father constantly monitored the actions and decisions of his son to make sure that he was able to effectively manage a large company.
In 1956, Robert Galvin became president of the company and regularly conferred with his father until 1959, when Paul Galvin passed away.
Chain of achievements
In 1956 Motorola releases a pager. The US government purchases it for medical personnel to improve efficiency.
In 1958 the company is joining the space race with NASA. Thanks to a transistor radio, the whole world was able to hear Neil Armstrong's famous words during the moon landing.
In 1960 managed to release the world's first wireless transistor TV, Motorola Astronaut TV. The new product had a 19-inch screen and instantly became a bestseller.
In the same year, the company launches production in Mexico and opens its representative office in Japan, starting to produce semiconductors and integrated circuits for the local market.
In 1966 the whole world saw the smallest portable TV receiver, Tiny Tim TV. It required only four AA batteries to operate.
In 1972 the MODAT mobile communication complex was released, which was greatly liked emergency services and police officers. With its help, the dispatcher could easily contact the driver, providing him with any important information.
At the same time, the DVP system was launched, which was engaged in voice encryption. It was actively used by special forces.
Martin Cooper during the world's first cellular call from from mobile phone
April 13, 1973, head of the project to create a personal telephone, Martin Cooper made the world's first phone call from a mobile device. To do this, he went to the center of Manhattan and directly from the prototype made a challenge to the head of development of a similar project at AT&T.
Guess where I'm calling from? I'm calling you from a real cell phone.
The DynaTAC 8000X model came into production, accommodating a modest 30 rooms address book. After a 10-hour charge, approximately 30-40 minutes of negotiations could be carried out.
In 1974 the company introduced its first processor. Clock frequency The new product was 2 MHz, the instruction system contained 78 operations.
In 1981 the company announces its decision to reduce defects to 0.00044% through a new management concept. If you don’t delve into the principle of operation, you can simply notice that over the next 5 years the number of defects has decreased by 90% without loss of productivity.
The Six Sigma methodology turned out to be so effective that competitors began to adopt it. And the origins of the development were associated with the observation of one of the managers, Bill Smith, who monitored the operation of Japanese enterprises.
In 1989 The company produces the first compact cell phone with a screen. The MicroTAC 9800X had a modest display and cost $3,500. Not everyone could afford it, but this did not make the device any less breakthrough.
Serious investment
In a separate dark line, we can develop our own satellite communications in the early nineties.
It all started with the creation of a subsidiary, Iridium LLC, into which Motorola invested $400 million, simultaneously getting into numerous debts, because five billion was required for a successful launch!
It was planned to launch 77 satellites into orbit, which were supposed to ensure stable reception of satellite communications around the world. And almost $200 million was poured into the advertising campaign.
But at the time of launch in 1998, the market situation had changed. Level cellular coverage, as well as the quality of communication itself, has become significantly better. And instead of 500,000 potential customers, Motorola served only 10,000 after launch.
At the same time, the technology itself worked with some miscalculations. While driving or indoors, communication with the satellite was simply lost.
As a result, there were only 66 satellites in orbit, the subsidiary company suffered several loans and declared itself bankrupt. Later it was bought out, the development continued, but under the control of the Pentagon.
On the way to the line
In 1997 the company was headed by Christopher Galvin, who was the son of Robert Galvin. Remarkably, Robert stopped managing the company in 1986. And these ten years, one after another, the post of president was occupied by the two employees closest to management.
Iridium was their common project, who knows, maybe Robert or Christopher would not have gotten involved in this adventure. Although during the latter’s reign a failed project was launched.
This major upheaval led to a wave of restructuring that pushed new developments to the sidelines. And former leader mobile technologies found himself in the role of catching up, because Nokia came to the fore.
In 2001 the board of directors openly criticizes company policies. But Christopher declares that the issues with the reorganization need to be completed and the losses will disappear.
What is worth noting is that the new president of the company relied on the classic values of his grandfather and father, namely the availability and quality of cellular communications. At the same time, competitors realized that portable mobile technology goes beyond regular calls.
Marketing Director Jeffrey Frost proposed expanding the product line with narrowly niche products. Thus began the development of the famous RAZR V3.
No one initially believed in the success of the future new product, but after its release in 2004 it became incredibly popular despite the price tag of $550 and the lack of a majority additional functions that were offered by competitors.
At the same time, Edward Zander became general director. Who, like the rest of the company’s top management, could not explain the success of the new model, and therefore did not know how to repeat it.
As a result, the price of the model was lowered to $300, hoping to develop this line. Along the way, several innovative projects were discontinued, so that the brand, in fact, could no longer offer the user anything new.
The situation was almost saved by the appearance of the musical novelty E398, which had powerful stereo speakers. It was planned to create a second version based on it, but together with Apple. This is how ROKR turned out, which differed only in software, because the iTunes service was available in it.
However, after the release and success of the RAZR V3, Steve Jobs saw Motorola not so much as an ally, but as a competitor. At the same time, the company itself was developing its smartphone, already knowing about the imminent decline push-button phones and individual players.
Decline of history?
In 2007 A serious war broke out on the market, in which Motorola could no longer find a place for itself. At the same time, Carl Icahn joined the board of directors, who with all his might promoted the idea of dividing the company and selling the mobile division.
In 2008 The company's losses amounted to $4.6 billion. But in 2009 they managed to reduce them to 51 million. It was noticeable that things would not get much better, and it was impossible to sell assets forever. Management decided to split the business into two companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions.
In 2011 The mobile division was sold to Google for $12.5 billion. Three years later, Lenovo acquired the same company, but for 2.9 billion.
Motorola Solutions is trying its best to rectify the situation, starting to sell off most of its assets. This tactic brought the company $1.2 billion in 2014. A year later, revenue is a modest 610 million.
If we talk about the telecommunications sector now, it is doing quite well. Despite the predicted doom, the company feels very stable. And 2018 closed with revenue of $7.34 billion, bringing in $966 million in net income.
It turns out that Motorola is alive? Yes, the brand still exists, but it is only a successful splinter from a large corporation, engaged in a narrow direction from the extensive original activities. It is a shame that the once breakthrough company that gave the world access to cellular communications became a victim of a lack of understanding of market needs. However, this is already history.
Motorola is a symbol of the advanced achievements of radio electronics of the twentieth century. Most of its successful projects were based on the timely introduction into mass production of the most advanced inventions in the field of radio engineering, electronics, telecommunications and computer technology. The list of the company's most famous products includes a whole series of military developments in the field of communications. The company's products have found wide application in the space industry. Currently, the company's name is widely associated with the name of a cell phone brand that was popular about 10 years ago. Being at the origins of the creation of modern methods of communication and communications, as well as possessing a significant amount of patented technologies, the company, however, lost its independence and was absorbed by other companies in parts.
Company logo
History of the creation and formation of Motorola
Motorola was founded in 1928 in Chicago. The original name of the company was Galvin Manufacturing Corporation.
It was founded by two brothers named Galvin, Paul and Joseph, on the basis of a rectifier manufacturing enterprise they bought. These devices became the first products. The office, retail space and production facilities were located in the same building. The circumstances surrounding the start of Motorola's business have become legendary:
- $750 – purchase of the bankrupt Stewart Battery company;
- equipment for the production of rectifiers;
- their assembly technology;
- $565 in reserve.
Two years later new company developed and launched a Motorola radio for cars, which brought its first commercial success. In 1947, the name of this product became the name of the company (Motorola Inc.) and its trademark. In the first year alone, about 3,000 copies were sold for almost $300,000. But the real commercial success of the company was brought by the Second World War.
The military order for the production of portable radios for the US Army brought in hundreds of millions of dollars, so that by the end of the 40s, Motorola became one of the leading companies in American industry. The year 1947 was marked not only by a change of name, but also by the release by Motorola of the cheapest television in the United States. In 1948, Motorola receivers became standard equipment on Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors vehicles. The course towards the development and implementation of new technologies ensured Motorola a long and happy life until the end of the century. The company had sufficient resources to spend huge sums on new developments. In the early 50s, an entire research and development complex was launched, the patented developments of which are still the most valuable capital of the company.
Motorola's first car radio
Devices that changed the world
Since the mid-twentieth century, the company's history has been a series of breakthroughs in the field of radio-electronic technologies. In 1955, the production of cheap transistors based on germanium began. This prompted the development of fundamentally new radio equipment systems and opened the way to contracts related to the space program. Radio signal translators produced by Motorola for a long time served as the basis space communications in the USA, were used in the lunar program, on military and research satellites. The world's first transistor radio (1956) is a Motorola product, just like the pager (the design is the same receiver). But the production and sale of televisions became the main engine of Motorola's commercial success in the 60s. In the early 70s, the company relied on radiotelephony and computers. Active participation in space programs continues. Motorola was a pioneer in many areas:
All these developments have found wide application in industry and have become the basis for the company's further commercial success. In the early 80s, Motorola became one of the leading suppliers of electronics for the automotive industry.
At the dawn of the cellular era
The production of the first commercial cell phone was the final stage of several decades of scientific and technological research and multimillion-dollar investments. This phone went on sale in 1983 and was called the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. Weighing just under 1 kg, this product only worked for 60 minutes. talk time and charged for 10 hours. He already had a keyboard, which became the prototype for all subsequent generations of cell phones, as well as a memory for 30 numbers. The device cost $4,000 and was very successful among buyers in the United States. But the Motorola MicroTAC phone, which went on sale in 1989, already differed in appearance from the shape of modern devices only by its protruding antenna. It could be carried in your pocket. In terms of content, this device was very similar to its predecessor. It had an LED display and the same price category– 3.5 thousand dollars. This device with a flip cover can be considered the prototype of all mobile phones of the 21st century. The bulk of the population in Russia saw this miracle of technology for the first time when one of the characters in the movie “Pulp Fiction” picked it up.
One step ahead
Golden times and worldwide fame for the Motorola company as a manufacturer of cell phones came in the 90s of the twentieth century. Since 1996, Motorola StarTAC flip phones have begun their victorious march around the world. The first models were strictly tied to a specific operator in the USA.
SIM cards from the most early telephones This series had a size similar to a payphone card. The latest variations of this device supported the GSM standard. One of the memorable technical innovations used for the first time is the vibrating bell. Over the next 6 years of the tremendous commercial success of Motorola flip phones, many modifications were released that were very different from technical side, so "StarTAC" should be considered the name of the concept, not specific model. All developments in the field of “telephone manufacturing” from Motorola, made at the turn of the century, were distinguished by some technical innovation, which was immediately copied by competitors. Motorola V3788 (1999) - a budget device accessible to all segments of the population, had a special adapter into which regular AAA batteries could be inserted. Motorola V2288 (2000) - these are multi-colored cases, FM radio and a notebook.
Motorola Timeport 7389i (2000) could be used as a modem for a PC because it supported data transfer using GPRS technology.
Motorola V60 (2001) is a phone similar to StarTAC, but with a player and a second display on the outside of the cover. Models V70 and V80 (2002-2004) - “rotators” - are very indicative from the point of view of the history of the company’s crisis. In terms of content, these devices did not differ from their competitors, but in shape they resembled a butterfly knife.
The company increasingly relied on external design, and competitors achieved great success in introducing technical innovations. The era of powerful smartphones was coming.
Fatal failure
The Iridium project, in which Motorola has invested hundreds of millions, is cellular communication from anywhere in the world using a single operator via satellites. This idea was too far ahead of its time. Cheap roaming did not leave a single chance for the success of this project. Iridium's global communications system, like many of the company's cutting-edge ventures into which it invested heavily at the turn of the century, failed to turn a profit.
RAZR V3 (2004) – the last success, or the decline of the empire
The phones in this series became the last successful project of Motorola. But what made them popular again was their shape - they were very thin. In terms of content, they were inferior to their competitors from the very beginning. The bet on design could not ensure success for a long time, since the same Samsung immediately began churning out ultra-thin phones that were superior to Motorola not only in functional terms, but were also more diverse in form. Gradually, from a luxury phone costing $800, the RAZR V3 turned into a mass model costing less than $200.
The "wow factor" of refined subtlety made it profitable for a time, but in the cell phone market, other factors became paramount to success. The aging triplet platform of these devices did not allow turning the RAZR V3 into powerful smartphone, maximally filled with entertainment and communication innovations.
Attempts to create smartphones on the platform Windows Mobile(L, U, and K series), as well as Linux (Z and A series touchscreen phones), led to the creation of very expensive devices that were functionally inferior to competitors and were not successful in mass sales. As a result, in 2007, the share of the cell phone market decreased from 23% to 13%, with a net loss of almost $50 million.
Division and sale of the company in parts
Attempts to release highly profitable smartphone models on a modern platform led to the emergence of a number of high-quality and high-quality models, which still could not regain the company’s lost position in the market. The sliders of the Z8 and Z10 series on the Symbian UIQ platform deserve mention as an example of an unsuccessful investment of the company's capital. 
Motorola acquired a 50% stake in the developer of this platform, UIQ. Motorola Droid smartphones (Android OS) in all modifications failed to attract buyers, since they simply joined the long line of all kinds of Android devices that filled store shelves where other brands were in the lead. As a result, Motorola suffered losses, and the price of shares dropped to a critical level. In the history of the company there have already been divisions and sales of entire production lines. Back in the early 70s of the last century, Motorola sold the production of televisions to a Japanese company. In 2004, the production of semiconductors and automotive electronics was separated and sold.
The next division occurred in 2011. The production of telecommunications equipment (Motorola Solutions) acquired the status of an independent company. The unprofitable mobile phone business was transformed into Motorola Mobility, which was bought by Google in August 2011 for $12.5 billion, or $40 per share. The high price was explained by the value of the patent portfolio, which forms the basis of Motorola's intellectual property. The production part of the company was immediately laid off. Google's partners, who used the Android OS in the production of their products, feared that Google would abandon the partnership and become a monopolist. As a result, Motorola Mobility's production potential suffered irreversible losses.
Slogan: Intelligence Everywhere
hello moto
Most people strongly associate this company with mobile phones. But in fact, the spectrum is much richer and more colorful.
It all started in 1928, when businessman Paul Galvin founded the company with his brother Joseph Galvin. History includes the amount he had at that time - $750, most of which was immediately spent on purchasing various necessities. By that time, Paul already had extensive business experience. According to him, he had already “fallen several times and thanks to this, he learned to get up.”
At first, the company was engaged in network rectifiers, which were assembled manually by a team of five workers. In 1930, the range of products was expanded - the Motorola car receiver appeared. In those years, the suffix “-ola” became very popular among manufacturers of electronics related to sound (it has survived to this day - radio, radio). Thus, the company simply combined this ending with the word “motor”, hinting at the automotive component. Motorola became the first commercially successful car radio in history. Its first model was installed on a car Studebaker owned by the company.
Things got better, the range began to expand. Not only ordinary models appeared, but also those specially designed for use by the police (1936). Further - more. Not only radio receivers began to appear, but also transmitters, as well as radiotelephones. The Second World War brings additional income. Constant development and research is underway. In 1943, the first Walkie-talkie appeared - a pocket-sized walkie-talkie with a short range. These devices became the basis for an entire class of devices named after them.
The popularity of all this technology led to the fact that since 1947 the company Galvin Manufacturing Corporation changed the name to . The logo we are familiar with, in the form of the letter “M” formed by two peaks, appeared later - in 1955. With this logo, the company symbolized its desire to rise to leadership. This logo, also known as "emsignia"(or even completely "batwing" – "bat wings"), existed all this time practically unchanged - only in 1967 it was enclosed in a circle. Word "emsignia" arose as an M-modified word "insignia" – "symbol, emblem".
The equipment is becoming almost standard. In 1956, the first pager appeared. The first ever rectangular picture tube for a TV was also developed (1963). The Apollo spacecraft carried equipment from this company, so it holds the honor of the first radio transmission from the Moon to Earth (1969).
But the most important event in the company's history occurred in 1973 - the world's first working cell phone model appeared. Motorola DynaTAC(DYNamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage). These devices were destined to bring about a real revolution. 10 years passed before commercial implementation - the first DynaTAC went on sale in 1984. Despite the high cost, the number of cellular users already numbered in the millions within a few years.
The prefix “first in the world” can be attached to very, very many developments. The company is at the forefront of the development of the now popular GPS and GPRS standards. In 1991 she founded Iridium, Inc.– a satellite communications company covering almost the entire surface of the Earth.
She also took part in the development of various microprocessors. So, the first computers Apple were built using these particular processors. They were also used in the first handhelds Palm. In 2004, the division Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) turns into an independent company Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. .
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| Motorola MOTORAZR V9 |
But, as mentioned above, it was mobile phones that brought Motorola the greatest fame. Especially her famous folding phones - StarTAC(1996), and later MOTORAZR V3(2004). True, in recent years, things have not gone well for the mobile phone market; the company slipped from second place to fourth, losing Samsung Mobile And LG Electronics. Blame this on Ed Zander, the former CEO whose misguided policies nearly led to the collapse of the company. But the beginning of 2010 brought hope for the revival of the company. Represented by smartphones running operating system Google Android . However, in the same year it lost the palm in the USA to the company Apple, and also, for the first time in history, fell out of the top five largest mobile phone manufacturers. It was replaced by the Canadian RIM.
By the beginning of 2011, it was divided into two enterprises:
Motorola Solutions- solutions in the field of communications for government and commercial structures;
Motorola Mobility- smartphones, telephones, tablet computers. In May 2012 it was acquired Google. And starting in January 2014, it went to a Chinese electronics manufacturer Lenovo .
At the beginning of 2016, it was decided to abandon the use of the name on mobile phones.
Interesting facts:
Motorola “invented” the mobile phone in competition with Bell Laboratories. More than 10 years and more than 100 million dollars were spent (at the then exchange rate!). And Motorola was the first to do so, not by much, but still ahead of its competitor. On April 3, 1973, one of the leading developers of the telephone, Martin Cooper, made the first call in history. Naturally, he called the office Bell Laboratories. Make fun of me.
The same Martin Cooper later recalled how difficult it was for him during the tests DynaTAC. After all, I had to walk a lot in order to check the signal level and, in general, the performance of the device in different conditions. What to do with a one-kilogram brick phone in the hand of an already middle-aged man was not easy.
Traditionally, all official photographs of phones show the time 11:35 AM (nowadays this rule is no longer always observed). Entire legends have already been built around this time. A more or less plausible explanation claims that it was at this time that Martin Cooper made his famous call. Another legend is based on a reason of a completely different kind: at this time, on August 8, 1969, musicians The Beatles crossed the famous Abbey Road to record the album of the same name. This moment is captured on the cover of the album, which became the last (“Let It Be” was mixed after the breakup The Beatles). And if this is so, then apparently the work of the legendary group was highly valued.
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Was dedicated Nokia company. Today we bring to your attention material on Motorola. This company stood at the origins of the emergence of mobile phones, and is still one of the world's three leading manufacturers. The solutions presented by Motorola at different times have largely determined the current state of the global mobile phone market. It is all the more interesting to follow the development of the company.
Company history
The history of the American company Motorola is inseparable from the history of mobile phones. However, even before their emergence, the company was considered a world leader in a number of areas. The birth of the company, as well as the first 30 years of its existence, are associated with the name of Motorola's founder, Paul Galvin. Thanks to this charismatic personality, the company became a leader in the field of radio communications. Also under his leadership, the foundations for Motorola's further success as a manufacturer and supplier of semiconductors were laid. Which ultimately led the company to the telecommunications market, where Motorola is now one of the leading players. On September 25, 1928, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation was founded in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by Paul Galvin and his younger brother Joseph. Before this, Paul had already had two unsuccessful business experiences - in the production of batteries for portable radios. And this time the beginning was not impressive. The company's assets included $565 (Joseph E. Galvin's share), line power supply manufacturing equipment (purchased by Paul with his last $750), and a line rectifier design. At first, rectifiers, which made it possible to power a portable radio from the network, were the company's main products. Then Paul Galvin, with his characteristic energy, switched to a new market - radios. In 1930, the company introduced the first inexpensive ($110) and practical (no need to turn off the engine) car radio. For advertising purposes, Paul Galvin even placed it in his car. The car radio hit the bull's eye. By the end of the year, sales reached $287,256. For car radios, Paul Galvin came up with his own trademark – Motorola (from the English Motion - movement and Victrola - the name of the then famous radio receiver). Following the automobile company, the company began producing portable radios. As a product solution, special car radios for police officers appeared in 1936. They were tuned to only one frequency. Cooperation with the state did not end there. Possessing amazing intuition, Paul Galvin foresaw the Second World War. Therefore, the company began to create a portable army radio station that provided full-duplex communication. In 1940, the Handie-talkie radio appeared. And the company’s revenue, thanks to military orders, increased significantly (up to $9,936,558). In 1943, an improved Walkie-talkie radio was released. It was even more compact and more perfect. And also gave a name to a whole class of devices, like copiers in Russia (after the name of Xerox products). Today, “walkie-talkies” are the common name for all pocket-sized walkie-talkies. With the end of the war, Paul Galvin (and, consequently, the company in general) began to look for new markets. And already in 1947, the company’s first television, Golden View, was developed. As in the case of radio, the success of televisions was affected by the price dumping policy ($179.95 versus $300 for competitors). Paul Galvin wasn't afraid to produce products with razor-thin margins. It is thanks to their low cost that televisions have become a mass product. This gave the company market share and boosted sales. In the same 1947, the original name of the company Galvin Manufacturing Corporation changed to the modern Motorola Inc. In the early 50s, the company began to develop semiconductor production. This will be one of the components of Motorola's future successes. Already in 1956, the company introduced a transistor radio. And also the world's first pager. In subsequent years, Motorola developed in several directions at once. Radio receivers were improved, and the production of automobile synchronous generators began. With the direct participation of the company, CRTs for color televisions appeared. The first transistor color televisions were released. Motorola products have been widely used in NASA space programs. Including lunar expeditions. In 1974, Motorola released its first microprocessor, the 6800. The company later became one of the prominent players in the processor market. But still, the most important event in the history of the company was the emergence and further development of cell phones and mobile communications in general. The first cell phone call was made on April 3, 1973 by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper. Although it all started much earlier. You can get acquainted with the history of the emergence of mobile communications in the corresponding material. Here it is worth dwelling on the contribution of Motorola. Before the advent of Motorola's brainchild, customers were offered only car radio telephones (AT&T). The devices weighed more than 10 kg and were installed in the trunk of a car. Therefore, the first cell phone, Motorola DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage), weighing just over 1 kg, was a revolution. This was one of the company's most expensive projects. It cost $100 million and 10 years of research. Development was carried out in parallel with competitors from AT&T Bell Laboratories. Not surprisingly, Martin Cooper's first call was to AT&T's Joel Engel.Over the next 10 years, Motorola improved its mobile devices. As a result, the first commercial cell phone, DynaTAC 8000X, released in 1983, turned out to be half the weight and much more compact. The further development of mobile phones was largely determined by Motorola's innovations. Thus, in 1989, the first phone with a flip (folding cover) was released - Motorola MicroTAC. In 1996, the world's first clamshell appeared - Motorola StarTAC. In 1998, the first mobile satellite phone, Motorola Iridium 9500. In 2000, the company introduced the first phone with a built-in FM tuner, the Motorola V2288, and the first phone with GPRS support, the Motorola Timeport 260. The following year, the first phone in the rotator form factor was released. - Motorola V70. Well, no one has been able to repeat the resounding success of the Motorola RAZR V3 released in 2004. Changes also occurred within the company itself. In 1998, the company's communications business was reorganized. As a result, mobile phones are now the company's main source of income. The company's staff was reduced (this year, by the way, the reduction process was resumed), some divisions were separated into separate companies. For example, Freescale is now producing processors for mobile devices. However, today Motorola produces a wide range of products beyond mobile phones. These are radio communications (for example, professional radio stations of the GP series - GP140/320/340/380-640/680/1280), wireless broadband solutions (Motorola Canopy Advantage data transmission platform), including those based on WiMAX (representatives of the product family MOTOwi4 – CPEo 200/400, CPEi 200/300/400/600 series), telecommunication equipment, etc. Unfortunately, the situation in the mobile device sector has not been very rosy for Motorola lately. Following the release of the Motorola RAZR V3, the company seemed to fall out of the technological process for a couple of years. Representatives of the new lines RAZR, SLVR, PEBL, RIZR, KRZR were interesting, but secondary in relation to the RAZR V3 and in general to the “triplet” platform, which appeared back in 2003. In addition, new products were constantly postponed, renamed, repositioned or completely canceled. This allowed other companies to stay ahead of the curve. The situation last year is indicative, when Samsung company has become a leader among subtle solutions. The implementation of technological innovations (EDGE, 3G support, NVidia GoForce hardware video accelerators, etc.) was delayed or occurred in single models. And, thus, did not influence the overall concept of the devices. As a result, with rare exceptions, Motorola products began to be considered image dummies. As a rule, Nokia devices Sony Ericsson functionally superior to them. The situation began to change only this year. Interesting solutions appeared or were finalized, reorganization began within the company, and the company made high-profile acquisitions. But more on this in the final part of the material. Now it’s worth moving on to considering the company’s iconic products.
