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Saturday November 7, 2009
Verizon announces two Android devices
06 November 2009 – Verizon Wireless today launched two Android-powered smartphones that will give their manufacturers a major boost. Motorola's Droid - unveiled to much fanfare last month - retails at US$199.99 and is the first Android smartphone to feature the version 2.0 platform. A successful launch is regarded by many as critical to Motorola's future success, as the company attempts to regain market share. To the surprise of many, Verizon also yesterday announced that it will today launch another Droid-branded device, called Eris and manufactured by HTC. Incorporating HTC's Sense user interface, Eris will retail at US$99.99. For Taiwan-based HTC, having a device with the full support of Verizon Wireless is a huge step towards getting the company's name in the consumer consciousness. Just last week the vendor began a global marketing campaign touting the HTC name in an effort to build a brand similar to Apple or RIM's BlackBerry. As for Verizon, Unstrung notes that the operator said the two Android smartphones are the first of "a family of devices."
Verizon also unveiled a number of other handsets yesterday, including the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 (also offered by rival operator Sprint), a new LG Chocolate device, and Samsung's Push-To-Talk Convoy handset. In separate news, Bloomberg notes that Verizon plans to double the fee customers must pay for terminating a smartphone contract early. Termination fees for BlackBerrys, new Droid devices and other smartphones will rise to US$350 from US$175 on 15 November. Charges for ending contracts early on regular mobile phones will stay at US$175. ♠ JC
Source: GSMA
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