Motorola debuts an iTunes-free ROKR E2 at the Consumer Electronics Show.

It had been rumored for some time now, but Motorola just announced their ROKR E2, the successor to the E1 ROKR or first iTunes phone.  However, this phone lacks the iTunes player, but gains some additional capability (from the Motorola press release):

• Dedicated music player buttons on the side (Play/Pause, Skip Forward/ Backward and Hold) and front.
• Full stereo audio via industry standard 3.5mm headset jack eliminating the need for adaptors.
• Optional hot swappable, SD™ mass storage memory card.
• Approximately 500 songs in a single 2 GB SD card (4 MB per song, approximately 4 minutes in length).
• USB 2.0 High Speed connectivity.
• 1.3 Mega Pixel Camera with flash.
• Video capture and playback (15fps).
• Display: 2 inch, 240 x 320 TFT (262k colors).
• Built in FM radio with up to 30 presets.
• Multi-Media Messaging (MMS).
• Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free connectivity with compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices.
• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID.
• Motorola's SCREEN3 technology solution featuring zero-click access to news, sports, entertainment, and other premium content.
• Opera® Browser

No word yet on the phone's ability to use iSync.  At the moment, there's no built in ability, but it's possible that an iSync plugin could be written.  Additionally, because the phone sports a standard SD memory card and unlike the E1 ROKR does not have an artifical cap on the amount of music that can be played back, it should be easy enough to transfer content on and off the device.  However, iTMS downloaded music won't playback on the device, unless a carrier decides to add the iTMS application.

Although not specifically stated in the press release, the phone will likely support Motorola's new radio/music subscription service, called iRadio.  You can find out more about that service here.

Plan on a lot of new phones being released in the next few days.  I'll be heading to CES (for my day job) but I hope to be able to get some close up looks at the new phones.