View source for Motorola

{{Short description|American telecommunications company (1928–2011)}}
{{About|the original company prior to its split in 2011|the present-day companies of this name|Motorola Mobility|and|Motorola Solutions|other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Motorola, Inc.
| logo = Motorola-Logo.svg
| logo_upright = 1.15
| logo_caption = The Motorola '[[bat|batwings]]' logo used from 1955 to 2011 (still used by successor businesses)
| image = Motorola Solutions IL01 tower.jpg
| image_upright = 1.15
| image_caption = Final headquarters in [[Schaumburg, Illinois]] (pictured occupied by [[Motorola Solutions]])
| former_name = Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (1928–1947)
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{NYSE was|MOT}}
| fate = Split into [[Motorola Mobility]] and [[Motorola Solutions]]
| successors = [[Motorola Mobility]] <br /> [[Motorola Solutions]] <br /> [[Freescale Semiconductor]] <br /> [[ON Semiconductor]] <br /> [[Arris Group]] ([[General Instrument]]) <br /> [[Cambium Networks]]<br>[[NXP Semiconductors]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1928|09|25}} in [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| founders = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Paul Galvin (businessman)|Paul Galvin]]
| Joseph Galvin
}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2011|01|04}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| location = [[Schaumburg, Illinois]], U.S.
| num_employees = 53,000 (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/en-xw/static_files/2009_Motorola_Annual_Report.pdf|title=2009 Annual Report, Motorola Inc.|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516001722/https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/en-xw/static_files/2009_Motorola_Annual_Report.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| divisions = Mobile Devices<br /> Home & Networks Mobility <br /> Enterprise Mobility Solutions
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20101231101257/http://www.motorola.com/ www.motorola.com] (archived December 31, 2010)
| industry = [[Telecommunications]]
| products = [[Tablet computer]]s<br />[[Cordless telephone]]s<br />Mobile phones<br />[[Smartphone]]s<br />[[Two-way radio]]s<br />[[Telecommunications network|Networking systems]]<br />[[Cable television|Cable television systems]]<br />[[broadband networks|Wireless broadband networks]]<br />[[RFID|RFID systems]]<br />[[cellular networks|Mobile telephone infrastructure]]
}}

'''Motorola, Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|oʊ|t|ə|ˈ|r|oʊ|l|ə}}{{refn|{{Citation |last=Jones |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Jones (phonetician) |title=English Pronouncing Dictionary |editor=Peter Roach, James Hartmann and Jane Setter |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |orig-year=1917 |year=2003 |isbn=3-12-539683-2 }}}}), was an American [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] telecommunications company based in [[Schaumburg, Illinois]]. It was founded by brothers [[Paul Galvin (businessman)|Paul]] and Joseph Galvin in 1928<ref name=":2" /> and had been named Motorola since 1947.<ref name=":3" /> Many of Motorola's products had been [[radio]]-related communication equipment such as [[two-way radios]], consumer [[Walkie-talkie|walkie-talkies]], [[Cellular network|cellular infrastructure]], [[Cellular phones|mobile phones]], [[satellite]] communicators, [[pagers]], as well as [[cable modem]]s and [[semiconductors]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=At Motorola, a history of embracing, then rejecting, consumer spotlight |url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/at-motorola-a-history-of-embracing-then-rejecting-consumer-spotlight/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, Motorola was split into two independent public companies: [[Motorola Solutions]] (its legal successor) and [[Motorola Mobility]] (spun off), on January 4, 2011.<ref name =":4">{{cite news | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059863418814674.html | work=The Wall Street Journal | access-date=January 4, 2011 | title=Motorola Is Split Into Two | first=Spencer E. | last=Ante | date=January 5, 2011 | archive-date=January 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106033238/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059863418814674.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="split">{{cite web |title=Motorola Solutions Inc: NYSE:MSI quotes & news – Google Finance |url=https://www.google.com/finance/quote/MSI:NYSE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903055623/http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:MSI |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2011}}</ref>

Motorola designed and sold [[wireless network]] equipment such as [[Cellular network|cellular]] transmission [[base station]]s and signal amplifiers. Its business and government customers consisted mainly of wireless voice and broadband systems (used to build private networks), and public safety communications systems like [[Project 25|Astro]] and [[Dimetra]]. Motorola's home and broadcast network products included [[set-top box]]es, [[digital video recorder]]s, and network equipment used to enable video broadcasting, computer telephony, and [[high-definition television]]. These businesses, except for set-top boxes and [[cable modem]]s, became part of [[Motorola Solutions]] after the split of Motorola in 2011.

Motorola's [[mobile phone|wireless telephone]] handset division was a pioneer in cellular telephones. Also known as the Personal Communication Service ([[Personal Communications Service|PCS]]) prior to 2004, it pioneered the "mobile phone" with the first truly mobile "[[Form factor (mobile phones)|brick phone]]" [[DynaTAC]], "flip phone" with the [[MicroTAC]] as well as the "clam phone" with the [[StarTAC]] in the mid-1990s. It had staged a resurgence by the mid-2000s with the [[RAZR]], but lost market share in the second half of that decade, as the company's one-hit wonders were not enough to reinstate Motorola as a leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-09 |title=Motorola vows no more `one-hit wonders\' - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2007/09/09/2003377992 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ojo |first=Bolaji |date=2007-12-03 |title=Motorola's new CEO faces long odds |url=https://www.eetimes.com/motorolas-new-ceo-faces-long-odds/?utm_source=eetimes&utm_medium=relatedcontent |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=EE Times}}</ref> Later it focused on smartphones using [[Google]]'s [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile operating system, the first released product being [[Motorola Droid]] in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murph |first=Darren |date=October 28, 2009 |title=Motorola DROID official on Verizon: $199 on contract, coming November 6th (video) |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-10-28-motorola-droid-official-on-verizon-199-on-contract-coming-nov.html |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Mustafa |date=2009-11-02 |title=Motorola Droid "Milestone" Gets European Specs, Adds MultiTouch |url=https://inquistr.wpengine.com/45732/motorola-droid-milestone-gets-european-specs-adds-multitouch |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=The Inquisitr |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413213119/https://inquistr.wpengine.com/45732/motorola-droid-milestone-gets-european-specs-adds-multitouch |url-status=dead }}</ref> The handset division was later spun off into [[Motorola Mobility]].

==History==
Motorola was founded in [[Chicago]], Illinois, as '''Galvin Manufacturing Corporation''' (at 847 West Harrison Street)<ref>Mahon, Morgan E. ''A Flick of the Switch 1930–1950'' (Antiques Electronics Supply, 1990), p.111.</ref> in 1928.

Paul Galvin wanted a brand name for Galvin Manufacturing Corporation's new car radio, and created the name "Motorola" by linking "motor" (from motor car) with "ola" (from [[Victrola]]), which was also a popular ending for many companies at the time, e.g. [[Moviola]], [[Crayola]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://highnames.com/motorola-naming-origin/|title=The naming origin of Motorola – High Names – International name agency|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510024016/https://highnames.com/motorola-naming-origin/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company sold its first Motorola branded radio on June 23, 1930, to Herbert C. Wall of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for $30.<ref>genealogy@acpl.lib.in.us new-sentinel-march-14-1958 microfilm</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/first-sales-account-ledger.html|title=From the Archives – First Sales Account Ledger|at=First use of the Motorola brand|website=[[Motorola Solutions]]|access-date=July 6, 2022|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706180507/https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/first-sales-account-ledger.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Motorola brand name became so well known that Galvin Manufacturing Corporation later changed its name to Motorola, Inc., in 1947.<ref name=":3">Harry Mark Petrakis, The Founder's Touch: The Life of Paul Galvin of Motorola (Chicago: McGraw-hill, 1965), 58–93</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/sound-motion.html|title=Car Radio – Sound in Motion|website=Motorola Solutions|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609045942/https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/sound-motion.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation began selling Motorola car-radio receivers to police departments and municipalities in November 1930. The company's first public safety customers (all in the U.S. state of Illinois) included the Village of River Forest, Village of Bellwood Police Department, City of Evanston Police, Illinois State Highway Police, and Cook County (Chicago area) Police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/calling-cars.html|title=Calling All Cars|website=Motorola Solutions|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=June 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620115424/https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/calling-cars.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Many of Motorola's products have been radio-related, starting with a [[battery eliminator]] for battery powered radios (during the burgeoning electrification of rural homes), through the first handheld [[walkie-talkie]] in the world in 1940,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/handie-talkie-radio.html|title=Motorola Handie-Talkie SCR536 Portable Radio|website=Motorola Solutions|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608224536/https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/company-overview/history/explore-motorola-heritage/handie-talkie-radio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Defense (military)|defense]] electronics, [[Cellular network|cellular]] infrastructure equipment, and mobile phone manufacturing. In the same year, the company built its research and development program with [[Daniel E. Noble|Dan Noble]], a pioneer in [[Frequency modulation|FM]] radio and semiconductor technologies, who joined the company as director of research. The company produced the hand-held [[SCR-536|AM SCR-536]] radio during [[World War II]], which was vital to [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] communication. Motorola ranked 94th among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.<ref>{{cite book|author-link1=Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)|last1=Peck|first1=Merton J.|author-link2=Frederic M. Scherer|last2=Scherer|first2=Frederic M.|title=The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis|date=1962|publisher=[[Harvard Business School]]|asin=B0006D6C0S|page=619}}</ref>

Motorola went public in 1943,<ref>Motorola Solutions History, "A Legacy of Innovation: Timeline of Motorola History Since 1928."</ref>  and became Motorola, Inc. in 1947. At that time Motorola's main business was producing and selling televisions and radios.

===Post World War II===
[[File:Motorola Tube Box.jpg|thumb|Motorola vacuum tube carton]]

The last plant was listed in Quincy, Illinois at 1400 North 30th Street where 1,200 employees made radio assemblies for both homes and automobiles.<ref>Illinois Manufacturers Directory, Manufacturers' News, Inc., Chicago, IL, 1962, p. 1108</ref>

In 1969, [[Neil Armstrong]] spoke the famous words "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" from the [[Moon]] on a Motorola transceiver.<ref name="money.cnn.com">{{cite news | url=http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/28/technology/motorola_google_android.fortune/index.htm | publisher=[[CNNMoney.com]] | title=Motorola gets in the game | date=September 28, 2009 | first=Jessi | last=Hempel | accessdate=May 30, 2012 | archive-date=June 20, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620081747/http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/28/technology/motorola_google_android.fortune/index.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1973, Motorola demonstrated the first hand-held portable telephone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Consumers/Corporate/US-EN/History/_Documents/history-1973-Portable-Telephone.pdf |title=Historic News Releases |publisher=Motorola Inc. |accessdate=November 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419100827/http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Consumers/Corporate/US-EN/History/_Documents/history-1973-Portable-Telephone.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1974, Motorola introduced its first microprocessor, the 8-bit [[MC6800]], used in automotive, computing and video game applications.<ref>"Motorola: 75 Years of Intelligent Thinking", 2003, page 42</ref> The 6800 was the basis for the more popular [[MOS Technology 6502]] which was made by former Motorola employees. That same year, Motorola sold its television business to the Japan-based Matsushita – the parent company of [[Panasonic]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cobb |first=James Charles |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Globalization_and_the_American_South/CyXZHE3jlBkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=motorola+television+sold+to+panasonic&pg=PA146&printsec=frontcover |title=Globalization and the American South |last2=Stueck |first2=William Whitney |date=2005 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-2647-4 |pages=146 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1980, Motorola's next generation 32-bit microprocessor, the [[MC68000]], led the wave of technologies that spurred the computing revolution in 1984, powering devices from companies such as [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Commodore International|Commodore]], [[Atari Corp.|Atari]], [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]], and [[Hewlett-Packard]].<ref>"Motorola – A Journey Through Time & Technology" pages 75 – 79</ref>

[[File:2007Computex e21Forum-MartinCooper.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Martin Cooper (inventor)|Dr. Martin Cooper]] of Motorola made the first private handheld mobile phone call on a larger prototype model in 1973. This is a reenactment in 2007.]]
In September 1983, the U.S. [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) approved the [[DynaTAC 8000X]] telephone, the world's first commercial cellular device. By 1998, cell phones accounted for two thirds of Motorola's gross revenue.<ref>John F. Mitchell, Time Magazine Milestones section, July 6, 2009, p.17</ref>

In 1986 Motorola acquired [[Storno]]<ref>Encyclopedia.com - https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/motorola-inc</ref> resulting in a whole new range of innovative communication products for the new owner,<ref>Storno History (English) - https://www.storno.co.uk/storno.htm</ref> including the [[Nordic Mobile Telephone|NMT]], an automatic cellular phone system, and made Motorola a more central player in the early stages of the [[GSM]] standardization process in 1987.<ref>AAU - https://vbn.aau.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/202145375/ICTin_DK_Info.pdf</ref> With this addition Motorola strengthened its position in [[Europe]] significantly. As Motorola's European development arm, Storno developed a GSM terminal in 1992.<ref>Motorola Solutions - https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/en-xw/static_files/1986_Motorola_Annual_Report.pdf</ref>

On January 29, 1988, Motorola sold its [[Arcade (village), New York|Arcade, New York]], facility and automotive alternators, electromechanical speedometers and tachometers products to [[Prestolite Electric]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Detailed History |url=http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_about/about_us_timeline.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323140651/http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_about/about_us_timeline.php |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2012 |publisher=Prestolite Electric Inc}}</ref>

In 1996, Motorola released the [[Motorola StarMax]], which was a [[Macintosh clone]] that was licensed by Apple and it came with [[System 7]]. However, with the return of [[Steve Jobs]] to Apple in 1997, Apple released [[Mac OS 8]]. Because the clone makers' licenses were valid only for Apple's System 7 operating system, Apple's release of Mac OS 8 left the clone manufacturers unable to ship a current Mac OS version without negotiation with Apple.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Steven|last=Beale|title=Mac OS 8 Ships with No License Deal|magazine=Macworld|volume=14|pages=34–36|date=October 1997|issue=10}}</ref> A heated telephone conversation between Jobs and then Motorola CEO [[Christopher Galvin]] resulted in the termination of Motorola's clone contract, the discontinuation of the Motorola StarMax, and the long-favored Apple being demoted to "just another customer" mainly for PowerPC CPUs. Apple (and Jobs) did not want Motorola to limit the PowerPC CPU supply so as retaliation, Apple and IBM expelled Motorola from the [[AIM alliance]] and forced Motorola to stop producing any PowerPC CPUs, leaving IBM to make all future PowerPC CPUs. However, Motorola was later reinstated into the alliance in 1998.<ref name="Jobs Makes Headway">{{cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB892507589126559000|url-status = live|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20150426152356/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB892507589126559000|archivedate = April 26, 2015|title = Jobs Makes Headway at Apple, But Not Without Much Turmoil|date = April 14, 1998|accessdate = March 16, 2019|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|last = Carlton|first = Jim}}</ref>

Neglect of the emerging digital cellular standards led to Motorola's end as the dominant leader in mobile phone handsets in the second half of the 1990s.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2000-04-17 |title=Motorola's Comeback |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2000-04-17/motorolas-comeback |website=Bloomberg}}</ref> In 1996 it fell behind [[Ericsson]] in the growing market for digital phones in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Short Take: Motorola falls behind in digital handset market |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/short-take-motorola-falls-behind-in-digital-handset-market/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Journal |first=Quentin HardyStaff Reporter of The Wall Street |date=1997-02-25 |title=Report: Motorola Is Losing The Digital-Phone Battle |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB856832610899290000 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In 1998, Motorola was overtaken by [[Nokia]] as the world's biggest seller of mobile phone handsets.<ref name="money.cnn.com" /> The company was also struggling in [[microchips]] (which together with cell phones accounted for the majority of Motorola's revenue), cellular infrastructure equipment, and the [[Iridium Communications|Iridium]] satellite project that it had invested in.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barboza |first=David |date=1999-07-14 |title=Motorola Rolls Itself Over; After a Bad Year, Almost Everything Is Coming Up Rosy, and Wireless |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/14/business/motorola-rolls-itself-over-after-bad-year-almost-everything-coming-up-rosy.html |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Motorola sold some businesses during this period, including in 1999 a portion of its semiconductor business—the Semiconductor Components Group (SCG)-- and formed onsemi (then [[ON Semiconductor]]), whose headquarters were located in [[Phoenix, Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.onsemi.com/
| title = ON Semiconductor
| publisher = ON Semiconductor
| accessdate = April 18, 2013
| archive-date = April 20, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130420074217/http://www.onsemi.com/
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

=== After 2000 ===
By 2000, Motorola had shown signs of recovery from a long sustained period of decline.<ref name=":5" /> It was still, however, losing money on every handset sold, whereas Nokia was making large profits on each instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recharged Motorola |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2003/0915/022.html |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2000, Motorola and [[Cisco]] supplied the world's first commercial [[GPRS]] cellular network to [[BT Cellnet]] in the United Kingdom. Motorola also developed the world's first GPRS cell phone.

In August 2000, Motorola acquired Printrak International Inc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Printrak, A Motorola Company |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/printrak-a-motorola-company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117192109/http://www.answers.com/topic/printrak-a-motorola-company |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |website=answers.com}}</ref> for $160 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 30, 2000 |title=Motorola to Buy Printrak for $160 Million |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-30-fi-12619-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102142311/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-30-fi-12619-story.html |archive-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref> In doing so, Motorola not only acquired [[computer aided dispatch]] and related software, but also acquired [[Automated fingerprint identification]] system software.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 27, 1995 |title=Law enforcement enlists fingerprint technology to fight crime Contract awards latest in string of wins for Printrak International |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_April_27/ai_16868474/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117111251/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_April_27/ai_16868474/ |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |website=findarticles.com}}</ref> With recent acquisitions from that year, Motorola reached its peak employment of 150,000 employees worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Motorola layoffs|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/06/28/motorola-says-7000-more-jobs-to-be-cut/|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=June 28, 2002|access-date=January 9, 2015|archive-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234520/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-06-28/business/0206280288_1_motorola-ceo-christopher-galvin-brian-modoff|url-status=live}}</ref>  Two years later, employment would be at 93,000 due to layoffs and spinoffs.

The company's handset division began using the "Hello Moto" tagline in advertizing in 2002 which later also became a signature [[ringtone]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Motorola Get Its "Moto" Working? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2002-03-27/can-motorola-get-its-moto-working |website=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-08 |title=Motorola set to disappear |url=https://thewest.com.au/business/finance/motorola-set-to-disappear-ng-ya-134981 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2005, Motorola overtook the intellectual property of [[Sendo]] for $30,000 and paid £362,575 for the plant, machinery and equipment.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Britain lost Sendo|first=Ben|last=King|date=September 28, 2005|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/28/how_britain_lost_sendo/|publisher=The Register|accessdate=January 16, 2011|archive-date=October 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004004201/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/28/how_britain_lost_sendo/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2006, Motorola acquired the software platform ([[AJAR (applications software platform)|AJAR]]) developed by the British company TTP Communications plc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail.jsp?globalObjectId=6811_6766_23 |title=Motorola acquires TTPCom AJAR Software Platform |publisher=Motorola Inc. |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416012236/http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail.jsp?globalObjectId=6811_6766_23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Later in 2006, the firm announced a music subscription service named ''iRadio''. The technology came after a break in a partnership with [[Apple Computer]] (which in 2005 had produced an [[iTunes]] compatible cell phone [[ROKR E1]], and most recently, mid-2007, its own [[iPhone]]). iRadio was to have many similarities with existing satellite radio services (such as [[Sirius Satellite Radio|Sirius]] and [[XM Radio]]) by offering live streams of commercial-free music content. Unlike satellite services, however, iRadio content would be downloaded via a broadband internet connection. However, iRadio was never commercially released.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://broadband.motorola.com/iRadio/
| title = iRadio
| publisher = Motorola Inc.
| accessdate = February 3, 2008
| archive-date = January 19, 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080119054016/http://broadband.motorola.com/iradio/
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

[[Greg Brown (businessman)|Greg Brown]] became Motorola's chief executive officer in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pletz |first=John |date=November 27, 2010 |title=Greg Brown's Motorola |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101127/ISSUE01/311279983/greg-brown-s-motorola |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004004023/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101127/ISSUE01/311279983/greg-brown-s-motorola |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Crain's Chicago Business}}</ref> In October 2008, Motorola agreed to sell its Biometrics business to [[Safran]], a French defense firm. Motorola's biometric business unit was headquartered in Anaheim, California. The deal closed in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2009 |title=Safran Completes Acquisition of Motorola's Biometrics Business |url=http://mediacenter.motorolasolutions.com/Press-Releases/Safran-Completes-Acquisition-of-Motorola-s-Biometrics-Business-2b62.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115040622/http://mediacenter.motorolasolutions.com/Press-Releases/Safran-Completes-Acquisition-of-Motorola-s-Biometrics-Business-2b62.aspx |archive-date=November 15, 2011 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |website=Motorola Solutions}}</ref> The unit became part of Sagem [[Morpho (Safran)|Morpho]], which was renamed [[Safran#Other subsidiaries 3|MorphoTrak]].

=== Split of Motorola ===
On March 26, 2008, Motorola's board of directors approved a split into two different publicly traded companies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holson |first=Laura M. |date=March 26, 2008 |title=Motorola Moves to Split Itself Into Two |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/technology/26cnd-motorola.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606165151/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/technology/26cnd-motorola.html |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> This came after talk of selling the company to another corporation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Motorola considers sale of cellphone unit |language=en-CA |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2008/02/01/motorola_considers_sale_of_cellphone_unit.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606163844/https://www.thestar.com/business/2008/02/01/motorola_considers_sale_of_cellphone_unit.html |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |issn=0319-0781}}</ref> These new companies would comprise the business units of Motorola Mobile Devices and Motorola Broadband & Mobility Solutions. Originally it was expected that this action would be approved by regulatory bodies and complete by mid-2009, but the split was delayed due to company restructuring problems and the 2008–2009 extreme economic downturn.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |date=October 30, 2008 |title=As losses return, Motorola delays its split |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/as-losses-return-motorola-delays-its-split/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719221022/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/as-losses-return-motorola-delays-its-split/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[[CNET]]}}</ref>

On February 11, 2010, Motorola announced it would separate into two independent, publicly traded companies.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=12429&NewsAreaID=2 |title=Motorola Targets First Quarter 2011 to Separate into Two Independent, Publicly Traded Companies |publisher=Motorola |date=February 11, 2010 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714121644/http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=12429&NewsAreaID=2 |archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> The cell phone and cable television equipment businesses would spin off to form [[Motorola Mobility]], while the remainder of Motorola, Inc., which comprised the government and enterprise equipment businesses, would become [[Motorola Solutions]]. The split was closed on January 4, 2011.<ref name =":4" /> Motorola Mobility was eventually acquired by Google on May 22, 2012.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=May 22, 2012 |title=We've acquired Motorola Mobility |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/weve-acquired-motorola-mobility.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522150027/http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/weve-acquired-motorola-mobility.html |archive-date=May 22, 2012 |accessdate=May 22, 2012 |publisher=Google Official Blog}}</ref> Google later sold Motorola Mobility's cable equipment business to [[Arris International|Arris Group]] in December 2012,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Gelles |first=Claire Cain Miller and David |date=January 29, 2014 |title=After Big Bet, Google Is to Sell Motorola Unit |url=http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/google-seen-selling-it-mobility-unit-to-lenovo-for-about-3-billion/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917005543/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/google-seen-selling-it-mobility-unit-to-lenovo-for-about-3-billion/ |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=June 26, 2016 |publisher=}}</ref> and Motorola Mobility itself to [[Lenovo]] on October 30, 2014.<ref name="Hello Moto">{{cite web |title=Hello Moto |url=http://www.lenovo.com/transactions/motorola/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101075732/http://www.lenovo.com/transactions/motorola/ |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 30, 2014 |publisher=Lenovo}}</ref>

== Divisions ==
At the time of its split, Motorola had three divisions:'''<ref name="motorola.com">{{cite web |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Motorola Mobility – Motorola Solutions – About Motorola – Directional Landing Page |url=https://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8892 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428065156/http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8892 |archive-date=April 28, 2009 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |publisher=Motorola Inc.}}</ref>'''
*'''Enterprise Mobility Solutions''' was headquartered in [[Schaumburg, Illinois]]. It comprised communications offered to government and public safety sectors and enterprise mobility business, such as Motorola's investment in Evolv.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monica |first=Paul R. La |date=2021-07-19 |title=Crowd-safety firm backed by Bill Gates and Peyton Manning makes Wall Street debut {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/19/investing/evolv-crowd-safety-spac |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Motorola developed analog and digital two-way radio, voice and data communications products and systems, mobile computing, advanced data capture, wireless infrastructure and RFID solutions to customers worldwide.
*'''Home & Networks Mobility''' produced end-to-end systems that facilitate uninterrupted access to digital entertainment, information and communications services via wired and wireless mediums. Motorola developed digital video system solutions, interactive set-top devices, voice and data modems for digital subscriber line and cable networks, broadband access systems for cable and satellite television operators, and also wireline carriers and wireless service providers. It was based in [[Arlington Heights, Illinois]].
*'''Mobile Devices'''' headquarters were located in [[Chicago, Illinois]], and designed wireless handsets, but also licensed much of its intellectual properties. This included cellular and wireless systems and as well as integrated applications and [[Bluetooth]] accessories.

== Corporate affairs ==
{{See also|Motorola Solutions#Corporate affairs}}{{See also|Lenovo#Corporate affairs}}

=== Finances ===
Motorola's handset division recorded a loss of $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, while the company as a whole earned $100 million during that quarter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/motorolas-quarterly-profit-declines-84/story.aspx?guid=%7BCC01CF82%2DC434%2D4C1E%2D97B5%2DFBEF11D78E44%7D&siteid=yhoof |title=Motorola profit slides on mobile woes; shares hit 5-year low |publisher=MarketWatch |date=January 23, 2008 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925123103/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/motorola-profit-slides-on-mobile-woes-shares-hit-5-year-low?siteid=yhoof |url-status=live }}</ref> It lost several key executives to rivals,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/17/motorola-cto-richard-nottenburg-takes-off/ |title=Motorola CTO Richard Nottenburg takes off |date=May 17, 2008 |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101617/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/17/motorola-cto-richard-nottenburg-takes-off/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the website [[TrustedReviews]] called the company's products repetitive and un-innovative.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/news/2008/01/24/Motorola-Phones-Sales-Crash-38-Per-Cent/p1 |title=Motorola Phones Sales Crash 38 Per Cent |publisher=TrustedReviews |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=October 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003215138/http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/news/2008/01/24/Motorola-Phones-Sales-Crash-38-Per-Cent/p1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Motorola laid off 3,500 workers in January 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-01-20-motorola-to-lay-off-3-500.html |title=Motorola to lay off 3,500 |first=C. |last=Ziegler |date=January 21, 2007 |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420062607/https://www.engadget.com/2007-01-20-motorola-to-lay-off-3-500.html |url-status=live }}</ref> followed by a further 4,000 job cuts in June<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-06-04-motorola-cuts-another-4-000-jobs.html |title=Motorola cuts another 4,000 jobs |first=C. |last=Ziegler |date=June 4, 2007 |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420062852/https://www.engadget.com/2007-06-04-motorola-cuts-another-4-000-jobs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and another 20% cut of its research division a few days later.<ref>slashing 20% of its research division</ref> In July 2008, a large number of executives left Motorola to work on [[Apple Inc.]]'s [[iPhone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/motorola-sues-former-employee-turned-apple-exec-for-ganking-trad/ |title=Motorola sues former employee turned Apple exec for ganking trade secrets |date=July 19, 2008 |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101627/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/motorola-sues-former-employee-turned-apple-exec-for-ganking-trad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company's handset division was also put on offer for sale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/motorola-insider-tells-all-about-the-fall-of-a-technology-icon/ |title=Motorola insider tells all about the fall of a technology icon |date=March 26, 2008 |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629050738/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/26/motorola-insider-tells-all-about-the-fall-of-a-technology-icon/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Also that month, analyst Mark McKechnie from American Technology Research said that Motorola "would be lucky to fetch $500 million" for selling its handset business. Analyst Richard Windsor said that Motorola might have to pay someone to take the division off the company's hands, and that Motorola may even exit the handset market altogether.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-07-10/motorolas-market-share-messbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |title=Motorola's Market Share Mess |accessdate=August 4, 2008 |author=Olga Kharif and Roger O. Crockett |date=July 10, 2008 |work=BusinessWeek |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030213324/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-07-10/motorolas-market-share-messbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |url-status=live }}</ref>  Its global market share has been on the decline; from 18.4% of the market in 2007 the company had a share of just 6.0% by Q1 2009, but at last, Motorola scored a profit of $26 million in Q2 and showed an increase of 12% in stocks for the first time after losses in many quarters. During the second quarter of 2010, the company reported a profit of $162 million, which compared very favorably to the $26 million earned for the same period the year before. Its Mobile Devices division reported, for the first time in years, earnings of $87 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_ends_fiscal_q2_with_healthy_profit-news-1846.php |title=Motorola ends fiscal Q2 with healthy profit – GSMArena.com news |publisher=Gsmarena.com |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316191741/http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_ends_fiscal_q2_with_healthy_profit-news-1846.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Environmental record==
Motorola, Inc., along with the Arizona Water Co. had been identified as the sources of [[trichloroethylene]] (TCE) contamination that took place in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]]. The malfunction led to a ban on the use of water that lasted three days and affected almost 5000 people in the area. Motorola was found to be the main source of the TCE, an industrial solvent that causes cancer. The TCE contamination was caused by a faulty blower on an air stripping tower that was used to take TCE from the water, and Motorola has attributed the situation to operator error.<ref>{{cite news |last=Balazs |first=Diana |url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/09/20080509sr-pvwater0510-ON.html |title=Companies trying to prevent PV water pollution |work=The Arizona Republic |date=May 9, 2008 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925123027/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Of eighteen leading electronics manufacturers in [[Greenpeace]]'s Guide to Greener Electronics (October 2010), Motorola shared sixth place with competitors [[Panasonic]] and [[Sony]].<ref name="greenpeace.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/ |title=Greenpeace – Guide to Greener Electronics |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113113437/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/electronics/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/ |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Motorola scored relatively well on the chemicals criteria and has a goal to eliminate [[PVC]] plastic and [[Brominated flame retardant]]s (BFRs), though only in mobile devices and not in all its products introduced after 2010, despite the fact that [[Sony Ericsson]] and Nokia were already there. All of its mobile phones were now PVC-free and it had two PVC and BFR-free mobile phones, the A45 ECO and the GRASP; all chargers were also free from PVC and BFRs.<ref name="greenpeace.org" />

The company was also increasing the proportion of recycled materials used in its products. For example, the housings for the MOTO W233 Renew and MOTOCUBO A45 Eco mobile phones contained plastic from post-consumer recycled water cooler bottles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://responsibility.motorola.com/index.php/environment/products/materials/#performance |title=Motorola – Material content |publisher=Motorola |accessdate=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808192807/http://responsibility.motorola.com/index.php/environment/products/materials/#performance |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to the company's information, all of Motorola's newly designed chargers met the current [[Energy Star]] requirements and exceed the requirements for standby/no-load modes by at least 67%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://responsibility.motorola.com/index.php/environment/products/energy/#performance |title=Motorola – Energy efficiency |publisher=Motorola |accessdate=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809052054/http://responsibility.motorola.com/index.php/environment/products/energy/#performance |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies|Telecommunications}}
* [[List of Motorola products]]
* [[List of companies of the United States]]
* [[List of electronics companies]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite thesis
 | author = Gart, Jason H.
 | title = Electronics and Aerospace Industry in Cold War Arizona, 1945–1968: Motorola, Hughes Aircraft, Goodyear Aircraft
 | url = https://www.proquest.com/openview/5e5ac73976bca54a083efb36e30b1609/1
 | publisher=[[Arizona State University]]
 | year = 2006
 | type = PhD. diss.
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101231101257/http://www.motorola.com/ Official website] (archived December 31, 2010)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815232136/http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=mot&script=400&layout=7&item_id=%270%27 Archived press releases (Q1 1998 to Q3 2000)]

{{Motorola}}
{{Illinois Corporations}}
{{Authority control}}

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