--- title: "MOTOROLA: Revisiting an Iconic Brand" description: "Lenovo announced during the CES in Las Vegas the “burying of an icon” of the mobile world: Motorola. Take a look back at the history of a worldwide Brand." image: https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/motorola-logo-6.jpg --- ![animation spinner](https://www.stardust-testing.com/wp-content/themes/stardust/img/anim-loader.gif) # MOTOROLA: Revisiting an Iconic Brand ![MOTOROLA: Revisiting an Iconic Brand](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/motorola-logo-6.jpg?width=975&height=487&name=motorola-logo-6.jpg) ![](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/motorola-logo-6.jpg)**Lenovo “buries an icon”** of the mobile world: on January 8 the Chinese manufacturer, **that has owned the Motorola brand since 2014**, announced at the CES in Las Vegas that it was discontinuing communications related to the Motorola brand. Let us clarify, however, that Lenovo does not wish to lose the historic brand's reputation, will keep the M logo, and continue to develop the MOTO and VIBE names in relation to the range of smartphones and wearables. Let us recall that Motorola is THE BRAND that started the mobile phone era, being the company that launched the first mobile phone in 1973, thus taking part in making the mobilephone more democratic. Motorola also dominated the world mobile market until 1997, especially in the US. At the time of the Motorola purchase from Google in 2014, Lenovo was looking to competewith the two giants - Apple and Samsung by 2020; however, the CES announcement is evidence of a certain strategic failure. ## Let us take advantage of this announcement to recap **the history of this emblematic brand:** **1928:** the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (specializing in electronics and telecommunications) is founded by the Galvin brothers in **Chicago** **1930:** the Motorola brand is registered, and **the first car radios** are rolled out [![auto raio capture](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/auto-raio-capture-9.png?width=220&height=166&name=auto-raio-capture-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/auto-raio-capture-9.png?hsLang=en-us) **1940:** the first **walkie-talkie is developed; the US Army will be equipped with** it during World War II [![talkie walkie](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/talkie-walkie-186x300-9.png?width=160&height=252&name=talkie-walkie-186x300-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/talkie-walkie-9.png?hsLang=en-us) **1947:** the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation changes its name and becomes Motorola **1973:** the first call is made on a portable wireless phone designed by **Martin Cooper** [![martin cooper](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/martin-cooper-9.jpg?width=170&height=217&name=martin-cooper-9.jpg)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/martin-cooper-9.jpg?hsLang=en-us) **1989:** **MicroTAC**, the smallest and lightest telephone in the market, is released [![microtac](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/microtac-9.png?width=168&height=113&name=microtac-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/microtac-9.png?hsLang=en-us) **1993:** The **StarTAC** is released in the US market: it's a **huge commercial hit** [![startac](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/startac-9.png?width=180&height=124&name=startac-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/startac-9.png?hsLang=en-us)         **2004:** the release of **RAZR**, the most popular flip phone in the history of cellular phones [![V3](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/V3-9.png?width=166&height=135&name=V3-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/V3-9.png?hsLang=en-us) **2005:** Motorola is named No. 6 by the PC World Magazine in its "50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years" rankings **2006:** In July, Motorola announces the shipping of the 50-millionth Razr and becomes No. 1 as the manufacturer of the most popular clamshell phone in the world **2011:** Google purchases the Motorola Mobility division for US $12.5 billion **2014:** Lenovo purchases Motorola Mobility for US $2.9 billion ## Telephones that are Hallmarks of Generations ## StarTAC ![Nicolas cage](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Nicolas-cage-300x126-9.png?width=269&height=119&name=Nicolas-cage-300x126-9.png)The **StarTAC**, Motorola's flagship product and very popular in 1997, contributed to the democratization of the cellular phone with about 60 million units sold. Equipped with a flip system that was both esthetically pleasing and practical, it could claim the privilege of being the smallest phone on sale at the time. The **StarTAC** was featured in a number of movie classics, such as **8MM** with Nicolas Cage. There are as many as a dozen models, including the very famous and rare Rainbow (see below). ## StarTAC™ Rainbow R![rainbow](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/rainbow-300x229-9.png?width=186&height=144&name=rainbow-300x229-9.png)olled out in 1997, the StarTAC Rainbow has a one-of-a-kind design some say "Lego" style)which makes it very sought after even today. Way back when, the StarTAC Rainbow cost 2.400 Francs (400 €), a small fortune! Some rare models (there was a range of colors available) make it a true "Geek fashion accessory".     ## Razr V3 [![V3](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/V3-9.png?width=197&height=161&name=V3-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/V3-9.png?hsLang=en-us) Motorola won the thinnest phone distinction with the **Razr V3** which was released in the market in 2004 and became the most popular flip phone in history and the world's No. 1 best seller (130 million units sold between 2004 and 2006). Principal advantages: ultra-thin design (98x53x13.9 mm weighing 95 grams), Bluetooth connectivity, MPEG4 video and MP3 audio playback as well as a 0.3 megapixel digital camera.   ## ROKR E1 [![rockE1](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/rockE1-9.png?width=122&height=151&name=rockE1-9.png)](https://www2.stardust-testing.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/rockE1-9.png?hsLang=en-us) The Rokr E1 was built in collaboration with Apple and released in 2005 at the same time as the iPod Nano. It is equipped with a mobile version of iTunes and was, therefore, referred to as "iPhone"! When the iPhone is announced in January 2007, Apple breaks off its partnership with Motorola.     ## Ask for a quote