Motorola Launches an Immortal Classic
New StarTAC III MS900 Phone
 This cellphone is a modern reinterpretation of StarTAC, the classic epitome of innovative mobile design. Motorola gave a modern-day twist to an old classic, announcing the launch of StarTACIII in Seoul. A state-of-the-art handset in its own right, StarTACIII is the modern reincarnation of StarTAC, widely recognized as a revolution in mobile technology and design.
In recognition of StarTAC’s classic heritage, Motorola is organizing a range of marketing activities around the launch of StarTACIII themed to reflect the ‘Retro Style’ that was popular during the 1960s.
Motorola’s StarTACIII naturally retains many of the original aesthetic features that made StarTAC so classic. The new handset will be instantly recognizable by its chic black coloring, specially-developed scratch-resistant façade, shoulders that curve gracefully around the hinge, a smoothly contoured front, and of course the distinctive StarTAC opening chime.
At the same time, as with all its iconic devices, Motorola has reinterpreted many of the design elements in a more modern style. StarTACIII’s powerful antenna, its simple and sleek figure, and stylishly luxurious silver trim along the sides are a perfect complement to StarTAC’s original classic design, forming a unique meld of the old and the very new.
Reflecting both the change in times and technology, StarTACIII can alert people to any missed or received calls and text messages by means of three signal lights on the outside – you can stay notified without even having to open up the handset.
The phone features 260K TFT QVGA screen (2-inches, 240x320 pixels), an MP3 player, 128MB built-in memory, and GPS. The Motorola StarTACIII will be released in early March, and priced at 297,000 KRW. There are also useful functions such as international roaming, GPS, “Moneta M-Bank,” an electronic dictionary with over three hundred thousand words.
StarTAC Original
The original StarTAC was the most innovative mobile model in terms of design and functionality at the time that it was released. StarTAC was known as “the only ‘wearable’ mobile device”, “the smallest and lightest mobile phone”, and “a fantastic mobile,” weighing in at a mere 88g and not much larger than a name card. The United States’ Business Week nominated StarTAC as the best hit product of 1996 in recognition of its superior functions, including an extremely long-lasting battery, high sound quality, and the very first incorporation of a vibrating function on a handset. StarTAC drew a sensational response in Korea as well. This premium mobile, which cost over 1.3 million won, was regarded as “a necessity for successful business people,” and 1.3 million StarTAC units were sold in the 4 years following its release in the Korean market – a sales record at a time when the mobile market was in its early stages of growth.
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