Motorola ITunes Phone Launch Delayed

Motorola was widely expected this week to introduce its first cell phone running Apple's ITunes software at the CeBIT trade show in Hanover, Germany. It looks like the company got cold feet after carriers voiced concerns, however.

Motorola has developed the ITunes-capable E790 phone for the European market and had planned to release it this summer, but the mobile phone's introduction has been delayed after Motorola's discussions with cellular service providers in the region.

Another ITunes-capable phone made by Motorola dubbed the ROKR may make its debut later this month at the Miami Music Multimedia conference in Miami. The event takes place March 23-26, 2005.

Motorola director of entertainment Alberto Moriondo has said that his company plans to release several ITunes-capable phones.

This isn't the first false start since Motorola and Apple first announced plans to work together in July 2004.

Motorola was first supposed to show off the phone at January's Consumer Electronics Show, but cancelled plans to do so ostensibly to maintain a competitive advantage against other cell phone makers.

In February, it was reported that Motorola had shown an ITunes phone at a press event, but Motorola denied the claim.