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Motorola Joins (RED) to Help Eliminate AIDS in Africa
Motorola mobile phone users to contribute with each call, text and download as the UK telecommunications industry unites
Consumers can now do the RED thing with BT Mobile, Carphone Warehouse, Fresh, O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone
BASINGSTOKE, UK – 15 May 2006 – Motorola (NYSE:MOT) today unveils, with the unanimous support of the UK Mobile Industry, (MOTO)RED – the first in a brand new portfolio of mobile handsets created to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
Launched by co-founders Bono and Bobby Shriver at the World Economic Forum last January, (PRODUCT) RED is designed to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.
In an unprecedented demonstration of support, mobile operators and retailers from across the UK (BT Mobile, Carphone Warehouse, Fresh, O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone) have all united behind this initiative.
The first product in Motorola’s new (MOTO)RED portfolio was revealed as the ultra slim, ultra chic red MOTOSLVR.
"RED is a 21st century idea. It's an amazing thing that these companies are doing - lending their creativity and financial firepower to the Global Fund's fight against AIDS in Africa, the greatest health crisis in 600 years. I think doing the RED thing, doing good, will turn out to be good business for them," said Bono, co-creator of RED.
“Motorola has been doing business in Africa for more than 30 years, and our support of the Global Fund is one way that we're able to give back to the region. Additionally, with our new red model, MOTOSLVR will help change the way people think about AIDS in Africa. We're literally placing in people's hands an opportunity to help find a solution," said Ron Garriques, president of Motorola Mobile Devices. "Motorola and the retailer partners in the UK are contributing £10 from every red MOTOSLVR handset purchase. And, starting today, our operator partners have agreed to donate to the Global Fund 5% of the monthly revenue generated by each red MOTOSLVR. So, with every call, every text and every download, consumers will be able to make a difference in the fight against AIDS in Africa every day."
Recent figures1 provided by the Global Fund demonstrate just how significant the individual contribution every new (MOTO) RED connection can make. The proceeds of selling just three handsets can provide a year’s worth of school materials and daily hot meals for a child orphaned by AIDS, while 5% of the average yearly phone bill can provide 180 treatments to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The new red MOTOSLVR will be available to purchase in stores throughout the UK from 15 May 2006. Learn more about red MOTOSLVR at www.motorola.com/red.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks - along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US$36.8 billion in 2005. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit www.motorola.com
About (PRODUCT)RED
(PRODUCT)RED’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa.
Companies whose products take on the (RED) mark contribute a percentage of the sales from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programmes in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express, Armani, Converse, Gap and Motorola. www.joinred.com
About the Global Fund
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.
Apart from a high standard of technical quality, the Global Fund attaches no conditions to any of its grants. It is not an implementing agency, instead relying on local ownership and planning to ensure that new resources are directed to programs on the frontline of this global effort to reach those most in need. Its performance-based approach to grant-making is designed to ensure that funds are used efficiently and create real change for people and communities. All programs are monitored by independent organizations contracted by the Global Fund to ensure that its funding has an impact in the fight against these three pandemics, which together kill over 6 million people per year. AIDS alone kills over 3 million people per year.
As of end December 2005, 384,000 people have begun Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through Global Fund supported programs, which is nearly triple the number of ARV recipients funded by Global Fund resources by the end of 2004. Around half of the Global Fund’s financing ($5.2 billion committed to 385 programs in 130 countries) is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services. Taken together, Global Fund supported programs to combat malaria expanded distribution of insecticide treated bed nets to 7.7 million. In addition, tuberculosis programs have detected and treated more than one million TB cases through DOTS (Directly Observed Short Course Treatment).
www.theglobalfund.org
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Media Contacts:
Una Kent
Motorola, Inc.
+44 7802 365956
una.kent@motorola.com
Jody Hall
Freud Communications
+44 (0)20 7291 6318
jody.hall@freud.com
Mark Pinnes
Freud Communications
+44 (0)20 7291 6364
mark.pinnes@freud.com
1 Cost figures are based on a wide range of Global Fund-financed programs in African countries; exact costs in a specific country can vary significantly.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2006. All rights reserved.
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