How the Cliq May Make Handset Makers Uncomfortable - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

More from the “Neanderthal’s focus” department

The Blur service, as well, isn’t simply about social networking. The fundamental architecture is designed to push updates of all sorts onto the phone. Think stock quotes and sports scores as much a status updates.

All this implies that there is a battle not just between handset makers, but all kinds of companies trying to be the service on which you organize all your stuff. These include Internet companies—Facebook, Google and Yahoo—and integrated telecommunications companies—Comcast, Verizon and AT&T—as well as a handful of what have been just hardware companies—most notably Apple.

If Motorola’s rivals can offer services that show up not just on mobile phones, but on computer screens and televisions, shouldn’t Moto Blur be on these platforms too. I asked Mr. Jha, if there was a Blur web site that offered the sort of integrated view of a user’s social networks available on the phone.

“We are a handset manufacturer,” he said. “My view is if you have this device, you aren’t going to Motorola.com, you’re [sic] needs are being met by this device.”

How the Cliq May Make Handset Makers Uncomfortable - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com