Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Motorola
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Mobile phone manufacturers sometimes collaborate with software or media companies to create special music phones. One early example was the Rockr phone that integrated Apple's iTunes software, allowing users to store and play songs directly on the handset. This question tests whether you know which handset manufacturer marketed this Rockr device in partnership with Apple.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The Rockr phone was known as one of the early music phones integrating Apple iTunes outside of the iPod ecosystem. While Apple later produced the iPhone independently, the Rockr project was a collaboration, with Motorola manufacturing the handset and Apple providing the iTunes software. The correct approach is to recall which hardware company was directly linked with the first iTunes-compatible mobile phone before the iPhone era.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Nokia and Samsung are large phone makers, but Rockr is not one of their main historic music phone brands.
Step 2: Recall that Motorola worked with Apple to create the Rockr, an iTunes-compatible phone that preceded the iPhone.
Step 3: Bird is a much lesser known handset brand and is not associated with Apple iTunes collaborations.
Step 4: Because multiple sources identify the Rockr iTunes phone as a Motorola product, Motorola must be the correct option.
Verification / Alternative check:
Contemporary news articles from the time of launch, as well as mobile phone history summaries, describe the Rockr as a Motorola-made handset that included Apple iTunes support. No such references link Nokia, Samsung, or Bird with this particular model and feature combination. Business awareness MCQ sets also match Rockr with Motorola in their answer keys.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nokia: Although Nokia later produced many music phones, the specific Rockr iTunes phone was not a Nokia product.
Samsung: Also produced various multimedia phones but was not the partner for this Apple iTunes collaboration.
Bird: A smaller handset brand with no major association with Apple's iTunes software in exam-oriented references.
Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse Rockr with other music phone series such as Nokia XpressMusic or Sony Ericsson Walkman phones and guess incorrectly based on familiarity. Another error is to assume that because Apple is involved, some Apple-branded hardware must be the answer. However, at that time Apple had not yet introduced the iPhone, and the Rockr project relied on Motorola hardware. Keeping track of such historic collaborations is valuable for business and technology awareness exams.
Final Answer:
The Rockr mobile phone with Apple iTunes integration was marketed under the brand of Motorola.
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