As Nokia launches iTune and iPhone competition, Motorola fades

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) made a big fuss today as it launched an online music system and several multimedia phones. Some will have new touch screens like the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone. These are going to market in Europe almost immediately. Apple has not given a date for an iPhone launch there.

Most of the competition for Apple's music and device products is laughed at on Wall Street, Steve Jobs & Co. have sold over 120 million iPods which fuels traffic to iTunes. The iPhone is the most anticipated handset launch ever.

But, Nokia has what no other company can claim--a 36 share of the global handset market. Reuters writes that the company estimates that the global multimedia phone market will grow by 50% to 120 million units this year from 80 million in 2006.

With such a large market share, investors want to know where Nokia will go for future growth. It says the new revenue will come from software and service. The software will power multimedia phones. The services will include its new music store.

It is a frightening exercise for Motorola (NYSE: MOT) shareholders to look back at the launch of the RAZR and hit tremendous success which was still evident less than two years ago. Nothing prevented Motorola from riding the sales of that handset to get into the mobile media download business.

And, now it is too late.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.