Behind the scenes of the ROKR failure

It seems like such a great idea: two companies with very cool products (iPod and RAZR) working together to create a new uber-cool fusion of the two that the buying public couldn't resist. Well, we all know that isn't how the collaboration between Motorola and Apple turned out. Wired has a very interesting article up that explores what went wrong.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Moto as I read the article; they were really in a very poor position. On one hand they were working with Apple, which often times means doing exactly what will benefit Apple most and screw what works well for your company (100 song limit anyone?) and on the other hand they had to work the Cell carriers (not a bunch of nice folks).

The resultant phone which makes the carriers slightly happy, Apple apathetic, and Motorola dealing with a potential flop hasn't excited consumers, but hey at least they have a good story to tell.