Verizon Wireless announced that the Android 2.1 Motorola Citrus will be available in Verizon Wireless stores and online on November 11 for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new contract. This Android smartphone qualifies for the new lower-priced data plan of $15 a month for 150 megabytes of data per month.
The Motorola Citrus is "an affordable, entry-level,
customizable smartphone" with a backtrack touchpad on the back to use as
a mouse. The Motorola Citrus also features a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Verizon has added Seven email, My Verizon, Visual Voice Mail, Skype mobile, City ID, Back Up Assistant, V Cast Tones, V CAST Video, VZ Navigator, Facebook and MySpace.
The processor is 524MHz, and the screen is a lower
resolution (240x320 QVGA), but the Motorola Citrus is ecological. The housing of the
Citrus is made from 25% post-consumer recycled plastic, is certified
CarbonFree through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, and is PVC- and
BFR-free. The packaging is made from 80% post-consumer recycled paper,
and the user manual is made using 100% recycled paper and soy-based ink.
Powered by Android 2.1, the Motorola Citrus has a full HTML web browser,
comes with preloaded Bing Search/Maps, and a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard or
Swype keyboard for text input.
Verizon Wireless customers who purchase Motorola Citrus will receive the
mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may
use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Motorola CITRUS customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon
Wireless Nationwide plan (beginning at $39.99 monthly access) and a Data
Package (beginning at $15 monthly access for 150MB).
Along with free shipping, Verizon offers an added bonus for ordering
online with the Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link so that you can get an
Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchases.
Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market.