Motorola may go shopping, enterprise chief says

Motorola Inc., the U.S. maker of walkie-talkies for emergency crews, may consider acquiring other businesses to offer more services and devices such as handheld computers and scanners to clients.

"If there is an acquisition down the road that would make us a better partner to our end-user customers, or make us more competitive or would, quite frankly, make good business sense, we are open to look at those opportunities," Gene Delaney, president of Motorola's enterprise mobility unit, said today in a phone interview. He didn't specify the size of a purchase.

Government and corporate business accounts for about 30 percent of revenue. The mobile-phone unit has lost more than $4 billion since 2007 as consumers flocked to smart phones, such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry. Motorola plans to spin off its mobile-phone unit.

"We are always looking at enhancing our portfolio," Delaney said.

He spoke today in New York following the debut of Motorola's MC9500-K handheld computer designed for courier, logistics and public safety customers. Sales from the enterprise business, fell 15 percent in the first half as companies froze spending in the worst U.S. recession since the 1930s.

Delaney declined to comment when asked whether sales are stabilizing or rebounding, citing a quiet period ahead of quarterly results scheduled for Oct. 29.

Motorola, based in Schaumburg, rose 41 cents, or 4.7 percent, to $9.20 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have more than doubled in value this year.