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BARCELONA, Spain-Motorola jumped into the tablet fray at the opening of Mobile World Congress here, announcing that the Xoom 3G/WiFi-enabled tablet, as well as a WiFi-only version, will be available in Europe beginning in the second quarter of 2011.
The Xoom runs on Google’s Android 3.0, code-named Honeycomb, designed specifically for use on tablet computers.
The Xoom offers a 1GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display with 1,280-by-800 resolution to support HD video. It also boasts HDMI out; a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for 720p video capture and 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats; and a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting. Honeycomb features the latest Google Mobile platforms such as Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction, and the tablet also supports Adobe Flash player.
Accessories include a standard dock for watching video content or listening to music through external speakers as the device charges, a speaker HD Dock for sending HD content directly to a TV or clearly listening to music through two built-in speakers, and a custom keyboard with Bluetooth wireless technology and special Android shortcut keys.
“The Xoom redefines what the tablet experience should be. Designed from the ground up with the consumer in mind, it provides more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive while on the go,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of portfolio and device product management for Motorola Mobility. “Whether surfing the Web, watching the latest hit movie or video-chatting with friends, the Xoom will delight consumers with its ease of use, speed and vivid graphics, as well as its Motorola Smart Accessories.”
Motorola also announced that it has acquired Three Laws Mobility (3LM), a developer of mobile enterprise security software and solutions and mobile device management products for the Android operating system. 3LM’s technology is designed to enable the adoption of Android devices by businesses and governmental entities. The 3LM technology addresses ease of use, cost of management and security concerns for IT managers and chief information officers by making Android devices more manageable within corporate environments.
Motorola Mobility is also showcasing software and service offerings at the conference, including Ready for Business software, which leverages 3LM technology. In an effort to broaden the adoption of Android in the enterprise community, Motorola said it plans on making 3LM technology available to other manufacturers during the second quarter of this year.
In addition to the business software, the company is introducing MotoConnect, a suite of solutions to sync content by merging ZumoCast and Motorola Media Link into a single platform, and Media Link 1.5, which enables the transfer of content from Apple iTunes music and Windows Media Player files, photos and videos. The evolved MotoBlur platform is enabling a host of client applications, such as connected music and multimedia services, and Aloqa, an open, location-triggered mobile push platform that has been integrated into the MotoBlur software, enabling third-party publishers to utilize a user’s location, identity and social relationships to inform them of places and events.
Other announcements include Medios service management software, which enables service providers to offer converged experiences, such as companion devices to the TV screen, or live and on-demand TV content to other devices both in and outside the home; and the 4Home software platform, which gives consumers the ability to monitor and manage home security, actively control systems and appliances, manage health-related solutions, and optimize energy consumption in the home.