Motorola to launch music streaming service

Motorola’s music strategy appears to be forging ahead without partner Apple as the vendor today announced a new subscription-based streaming service to replace iTunes in the latest edition of its ROKR music phone, according to news reports.

After launching the first generation Apple-powered ROKR to big fanfare but little acclaim, Motorola is revamping the second-generation phone the ROKR E2, Reuters reported today. The new music service, called iRadio, will eschew the iTunes model, which allows customers to transfer their digital music collections into the phone like an iPod, for a static subscription service with 435 stations resold by carrier partners.

Motorola told Reuters that the service would run about $7 a month, making it comparable to other subscription-based streaming services available over mobile networks. But Motorola did not name any specific carrier customers, which already have a wide array of choices for music content. If Motorola, however, delivers the promised 435 stations it might have an edge on other players like Sirius Satellite Radio, which have far more basic channel offerings so far. Reuters also reported that the new phone would be capable of storing 70 hours of digital music, making it one of the heftiest digital music handsets on the market.

Motorola plans to unveil the new phone and service this week at CES in Las Vegas.