Verizon Two New Android Phones

One year after the first Android phone debuted, the open-source mobile operating system is finally picking up some steam.

Verizon has partnered with Google to offer two new mobile devices based on Android. The additions may add some excitement to the carrier’s otherwise lackluster smartphone lineup.

Verizon announced that it will have two Android-based phones in the “coming weeks.” It hasn’t said which Android phones will be on its network but there are two likely candidates: Motorola Sholes and the HTC Hero.

In June, HTC introduced the Hero, a phone with a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, GPS, a digital compass, a 5-megapixel auto focus camera and expandable microSD memory. The device features an anti-fingerprint coating on the screen for smudge resistance and a Teflon coating on the exterior. The phone has a specially designed user interface that lets users organize create different customized content profiles around specific functions or times. Users can also add widgets such as Twitter, Facebook, weather and e-mail to the phone. Verizon rival Sprint has already said it will offer the HTC Hero on its network.

The Motorola Sholes is still under wraps. Motorola hasn’t announced the device yet but leaks online suggest that it is strong candidate for Verizon. The Sholes is expected to have a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi.

Motorola said it will have a new Android phone ready for consumers later this year. In September, Motorola announced the Cliq, a phone that focuses on social networking. The Cliq will be available on T-Mobile.

Verizon also took a jab at AT&T and the iPhone in its announcement today. Verizon said its new phones will support Google Voice on its network, something that Apple reportedly rejected for the iPhone.


http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/verizon-android-phones/