Endless convulsing seems to be the only constant under Moto’s new management. A split between carrier and consumer device businesses made a lot of sense same time ago, and now it’s actually so. I wonder if both of Moto’s businesses would not be in better shape now if this had been done while business was still very good.

The suburban Chicago-based cell phone maker has been under pressure from billionaire investor Carl Icahn for changes meant to revitalize its cell-phone business. The cell phone unit has seen its sales and stock price plummet with the company unable to produce second act to the once-popular Razr phone.

Motorola said the handset business will operate separately from another company that will encompass its home and networks business, which sells TV set-top boxes and modems, and its enterprise mobility solutions, which sells computing and communications equipment to businesses. (Yahoo News)

Another good outcome could be Carl Ican making enough money to go away. While he may be very good at shaking up complacent management, he’s not been good for companies he’s stayed involved with over the long term.

Here’s a prediction. Open networks, open source software and surplus Chinese manufacturing capacity from the economic slowdown will commoditize handset business very quickly. Facing increased competition, and investor pressure, Moto may be exiting the business. I think they are also acutely aware of the coming market changes.

The company, which practically invented the cell phone market in the ’80s, is considering spinning off its beleaguered handset business in an effort to revive the business, Motorola said Thursday.

In a press release, the company said it was considering a “structural realignment” to kick-start its mobile-device business, which has seen its global market share plunge to 12 percent from more than 20 percent market share a year ago. The main problem has been Motorola’s inability to come up with new handsets to follow the once highly popular Razr.

Last week, the company told investors it would take longer than expected to turn around its troubled cell phone business. And it warned that revenue and market share would likely decline further in the first quarter. (from Cnet)

Morotola announces a new line of WiMax end nodes. The CPEi-100 is designed to be placed on the desk for location specific use. Certainly not mobile.

Don’t know what it is, but it seems that if it is a DSL/Cable/now WiMax modem the case style is a vertical format as preference. Why is that? Up to a point I can understand it for the WiMax device, the case is also the shell for the antenna. But Wifi does not need that yet that seems to be the style.

Sorry we don’t have specs on this device yet but we pass it on when we get them. But a passing thought. Motorola is moving into the Broadband over Powerline market. They have a whole suite of solutions targeted at the multi unit dwelling market. But there appears to be an opportunity for the single family residence as well.

80% of the housing in this country was built pre-CAT5. That means either new wire needs to be strung or the homeowner goes wifi for internal connections. But there is existing wiring — electrical. So why not marry the upcoming WiMax standard with BPL? WiMax is your internet connection and BPL is your distribution plant using your existing home wiring. In the Motorola portfolio I don’t see a product that matches that functionality.

Linky.

A the Wimax wave builds to a tsunami sized event worldwide in the coming year, Motorola, the top infrastructure maker is on track to complete it’s current contracts on schedule. It is worth noting the wave will largely exclude the US. Perhaps the American market will finally get on track with new management at Sprint for ‘08 and the 700MHz spectrum to begin use for broadband in ‘09. more on Broadband Reports

Philips has resubmitted test devices for the white space trials. Glad to see this has not been dropped. Oh and by the way Google, Motorola are submitting as well.

HT: Public Knowledge

Motorola will update the MotoMing1200 with the newer 1600 model. This is a linux driven, though not OHA compliant OS. Sadly the model did not catch on here due to our lack of GSM infrastructure. Specs —

• Quad band GSM (850/900/1800/1900), GPRS connectivity
• Faster CPU
• Linux OS
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flashlight
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Built-in AGPS receiver
• 17.5 mm thin
• Talking dictionary
• 3 built in games (skiing, bowling and racing 3D games)

The interesting piece about this phone is its cellular - wifi capability.

World adoption of Wimax is really on a roll, yet Wall Street keeps talking it down, and running down the technology’s top US based deployer. For an example:

Things rapidly came unglued during the fall. Shareholders became increasingly aggravated about Sprint’s disappointing financial performace and the cost of deploying the WiMax infrastructure. This first led to the ouster of CEO Gary Forsee in October and the dissolution of the Clearwire-Sprint accord earlier this month. (from Unstrung)