Motorola and Bono See RED
By Geoff Duncan
May 15, 2006
Motorola has launched a new verison of its SLVR phone for UK users tied to U2 frontman Bono's RED campaign to fight AIDS in Africa.
Phone maker Motorola has launched a new red edition of its SLVR phone for the U.K. market, tied directly to U2 frontman Bono's Product Red campaign to combat the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
"RED is a 21st century idea. It's an amazing thing that these companies are doing—lending their creativity and financial firepower to the Global Fund's fight against AIDS in Africa, the greatest health crisis in 600 years. I think doing the RED thing, doing good, will turn out to be good business for them," said Bono.
The quad-band GSM phone will retail for £149 and is compatible with all major U.K. mobile networks. Motorola and retailers will contribute £10 from each phone sale to the Global Fund, a foundation dedicated to fight AIDS and other diseases; U.K. mobile phone network operators will donate an addition 5 percent of RED users' monthly phone fees to the same fund.
The phone features an integrated MP3 player, VGA camera and video capture features, push-to-talk capability, a color screen, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and up to 512 MB of removable flash storage.
"Motorola has been doing business in Africa for more than 30 years, and our support of the Global Fund is one way that we're able to give back to the region. Additionally, with our new red model, MOTOSLVR will help change the way people think about AIDS in Africa. We're literally placing in people's hands an opportunity to help find a solution," said Ron Garriques, president of Motorola Mobile Devices.
Product Red was co-founded in January 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver (nephew to slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy); American Express has already announced a RED credit card and clothing merchandizers The Gap, Armani, and Converse have all signed on to the effort.