Motorola invests in software projects for mobile handsets
With US$ 7 million, the company expands its partnerships in Brazil

SÃO PAULO - Motorola’s Brazilian subsidiary recently announced that it will invest US$ 7 million in software R&D for mobile services by the beginning of 2005. The funds are earmarked for projects currently being developed by the Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems (Cesar), The Information Technology Center (Cin) at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), the Eldorado Institute in Campinas (São Paulo state) and the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). “Our plan is to establish long term partnerships,” affirms the director of research and development for the company, Rosana Fernandes.

Implemented in 1997, the Technological Development Program for Motorola Brazil has already channeled US$ 135 million to associated institutions. In January 2002, the multinational’s Brazil Design Center (BDC) - created in 1999 - was awarded CMM (Capability Maturity Model) Level 3 certification from the Software Engineering Institute (SEI). “We started with partnerships with several universities and other institutions. Based on the results obtained, we identified the best institutions and started focusing on those partnerships,” says the director.

With the expanded partnerships, about 200 new professionals from the four centers have started working with the 180 employees in the Personal Communications Products Sector at Motorola’s production unit in Jaguariúna (São Paulo state). The institutions are involved in projects to develop applications, tools for testing cellular equipment and methodologies for creating new products. “We plan to invest in training programs,” states Rosana.

The next step will be to create excellence nuclei in the country, says the director. The company is finalizing studies to determine what the research and development focus will be. With this, Brazil should receive more investments. “We recently received a visit from the vice-president of Motorola’s software area, who asked for a series of analyses that could turn into investments,” says the director.
Along with other companies in the sector, Motorola finances both its own internal R&D projects and hires other institutions, taking advantage of tax breaks offered by Brazil’s information technology laws. Professionals at Cesar, for instance, develop applications for cellular telephones with support from Motorola. “The center specializes in the Java language,” notes the director.

Even so, the company wants to expand its involvement in tool and automated test projects for mobile handsets. “We want to take an extra step and consolidate new methodologies to gain greater flexibility in new product development,” asserts Rosana.

This year Motorola plans to launch 18 models in Brazil for three technologies - GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access). Among the innovations are devices with video and MP3 download capacity, Bluetooth technology for wireless data transmission, Edge (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution) handsets and smartphones. To meet the strong demand in the local market, Motorola is expanding its handset production center in the country. In June the company announced that it will invest US$ 11 million in four new production lines, including equipment testing and employee training programs.

[Ana Carolina Saito ]