Let the inter-galatic smartphone wars being. Droid will be invading the planet on November 6.
Motorola and Verizon unveiled Droid by Motorola today. Most of the features were previously leaked, and they are impressive. Verizon is touting its high-speed web browsing, voice-activated search, customizable large
screen, and what they call the best 3G mobile network in the country. Droid also includes access to Google Voice and Google apps.
They claim Droid by Motorola is one of the thinnest full-QWERTY slider phones available. It is a
no-fuss, high-tech, location-aware, voice-recognizing, over-the-air
updating, multi-tasking machine - and it is available just in time for
holiday wish lists.
Droid has everything an alien or earthling could want, Wi-Fi, multi-window web browsing, super-high res 3.7", mutlittasking of apps, voice search, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and DVD playback, turn-by-turn Google navigation(Beta),
Droid by Motorola will be available in the United States
exclusively at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online on
Friday, Nov. 6, for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement
after a $100 mail-in rebate. Customers will receive the rebate in the
form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash
anywhere debit cards are accepted. If you use the Wireless and Mobile News' online purchase coupon-link for Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchase then you don't have to wait for the rebate.
Pre-loaded Applications and Enhancements to Google Mobile Services:
- Google Maps: With layers in Google Maps, view geographic information, such as My Maps, Wikipedia, and transit lines, right on the map.
- Gmail: Multiple accounts support and undo for common operations.
- YouTube™: One-touch recording and playback from
homescreen widget or app, one-touch sharing with friends, and the
ability to view your own uploaded videos and high-resolution videos. - Google Talk™: Easily switch between chats, search your chat history, and preview pictures and videos sent by links.
- Android Market: Browse and download applications created by third-party developers.
- Calendar: Ability to see who has R.S.V.P.'d to your meeting invitations.
- Amazon MP3 Store: Download the latest tracks over the air.
- Verizon Wireless Visual Voice Mail: Delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions.
With DROID by Motorola, you can:
- Zip through the Web: Access the Internet at 3G
speeds via the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network or from
any Wi-Fi hotspot. The multi-window HTML browser with a massive
processor delivers the Web the way you expect. - See it all in cinema-style: View the Web, e-mail,
Google Maps™, videos and more in widescreen on a brilliant 3.7"
high-resolution screen. Boasting a width of 854 pixels to reduce the
need for side-to-side panning and more than 400,000 pixels total, DROID
has more than twice that of the leading competitor. - Run multiple applications at once: Customize your
DROID with thousands of applications and hundreds of widgets available
on Android Market™. Toggle back and forth between up to six
applications at a time to juggle the universe and your apps. - Perform Google Search™ at the speed of sound:
Simply tell DROID what you're looking for using voice-activated search,
and it will serve up Google search results based on your location. If
you want more, simply type what you're looking for into the search bar
on the home screen and DROID will also search content on your phone,
such as apps and contacts, and the Web. - Capture moments: Snap digital camera-quality
photos with a 5 megapixel camera loaded with the works, such as a
dual-LED flash, AutoFocus and image stabilization, or capture your
friend's antics in 16 million colors with DVD-quality video capture and
playback. Store it all on the included 16 GB memory card, so you always
have it on hand. - Multi-task like a master: Keep tabs on all your
messages with integrated Gmail™ and Exchange e-mail pushed directly to
you, but don't let them get in your way. With the handy Android
notification panel, go straight to the message or simply ignore it, and
get back to the task at hand. And, a smart dictionary learns as you
type and automatically includes your contacts. - Get where you need to go with Google Maps Navigation (Beta):
DROID is the first device with Google Maps Navigation, providing
turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. It's
powered by Google and connected to the Internet. Use voice shortcuts
and simply say "Navigate to [your destination]," and you'll be on your
way. See live traffic, use Street View or satellite imagery to view
your route, and get access to the most recent maps and business
information from Google Maps without ever needing to update your
device.
To get the most from DROID by Motorola smartphone, customers will
need to subscribe to a Nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for
Smartphone plan. Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly
access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is
$29.99 for monthly access.