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Verizon and Motorola take on iPhone with Droid X |
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Verizon Wireless plans to start selling Droid X next month in the US, launching the latest phone from Motorola based on Google’s Android software.
The move comes as the three companies try to keep pace in the intensely competitive smartphone market, which this week will see Apple Inc roll out its much anticipated iPhone 4 on five continents.
Verizon Wireless, the biggest U.S. mobile provider, said the Droid X phone will go on sale July 15 for $199.99 after a $100 rebate to customers signing a two-year contract.
The Droid X has a 4.3 inch touch-screen and an 8 megapixel camera, according to Verizon Wireless, which already depends on Motorola's Android phones as a key weapon in competing against AT&T Inc, the exclusive U.S. provider for iPhone.
Verizon Wireless also hopes to attract new customers to Droid X by keeping a $29.99-a-month unlimited-data-download service for Droid X customers. AT&T recently eliminated its unlimited data use plans.
Verizon Wireless Chief Marketing Officer John Stratton said he has planned a "very major" marketing campaign for Droid X.
"We think this is going to be a terrific product," Stratton said, noting that his goal would be for the phone to sell faster than the first Droid, which sold 2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2010 when it launched.
Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc, also announced on Wednesday that any customers coming to the end of their contract in 2010 would be able to immediately upgrade to any smartphone, including the Droid X.
Motorola and Verizon Wireless hope the phone stands out in particular for its multimedia capability due to the relatively large screen and a high definition video player.
Motorola executives cited several reasons why consumers may prefer Droid X including a removable battery and the option to add more storage, all features that are absent in iPhone.
Droid X includes Swype software, which Apple lacks. Swype helps make typing on the touch screen keypad faster and more accurate as the user can drag fingers between letters instead of tapping on each letter individually.
The Droid X allows consumers to rent and buy movies from Blockbuster Inc to watch on the phone. Movies cost $9.99 to purchase and $3.99 to rent using the Wi-Fi network. Unlike iPhone 4, the Droid X will support Adobe Flash.
Google's Android system has been gaining some ground on iPhone in the last year. Google's head of engineering Andy Rubin said at the Droid X phone launch that about 160,000 new consumers were signing on to Android phones every day, up from the 100,000 per day it announced in May. |
New Technology