Apple, Motorola Join Fight Against AIDS

Apple and Motorola on Friday began selling red-colored electronics in the United States Friday to raise awareness and money for the fight against AIDS in Africa, as well as tuberculosis and malaria.

Apple will contribute $10 from the sale of each its new iPod nano (Product) Red to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. (The word "product" and the parentheses are part of Apple's official name for the charity oriented edition of its music player.) Apple is also offering a $25 iTunes (Product) Red gift card available for purchase at Apple's retail and online stores next month.

The iPod nano (Product) Red Special Edition with a 4GB model will sell for $199 in the U.S. through Apple's retail stores and online.

Motorola's Red Motorazr V3m handset has advanced features like a 1.3 megapixel digital camera with 4x digital zoom and video capture, playback and streaming, GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone and a MicroSD memory card slot. It also includes five preloaded screen savers.

Content available on the phone from Sprint supports live television, NFL Mobile and Sprint Music Store. Both companies will contribute directly to the fund with each RED Motorazr sold at Sprint.

The Red Motorazr is the first in a series of products in the United States to benefit The Global Fund, an organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver.

The Global Fund was created to support the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, in Africa, which kills more than 6 million people each year. Motorola and Sprint are not the only two companies supporting the cause. A new product line bearing the brand name "Red," retail stores Gap, Armani Exchange, Converse, as well as American Express, aims to raise money, too.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been active in the fight as well. The Global Fund has committed $5.2 billion to more than 363 programs in 131 countries.