Really looking forward to trying out this phone. Actually hoping that we get it and the iPhone 4S at the same time so we can do a true side-by-side comparison.

Today, Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) and Verizon Wireless announced DROID RAZR™ by Motorola, the world’s thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. A true marvel of design, this smartphone packs strength and smarts into a stylish package offered exclusively from Verizon Wireless.

Measuring 7.1 mm thin, made with KEVLAR® fiber for strength and Corning® Gorilla® Glass for scratch resistance, the DROID RAZR is ready to face the elements.  Speed limits are just an illusion with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and Verizon Wireless 4G LTE. DROID RAZR customers can expect to rip through the Web with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

“DROID RAZR by Motorola combines style, performance and the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network into one innovative device,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “These are two iconic brands that separately symbolize the best technology available today. The combination will provide an unsurpassed wireless experience for customers.”

“DROID RAZR by Motorola is a testament to the innovation and design possibilities that stem from a strong partnership between Motorola Mobility and Verizon Wireless,” said Sanjay Jha, Chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility. “We set out to design the best smartphone on the planet and delivered DROID RAZR which is thinner, smarter, stronger than any device on the market.”

Not only does DROID RAZR by Motorola deliver heart-pounding speed, but it has a mind-bending 4.3-inch hyper-vibrant display with more colors than most LCD HDTVs. The Super AMOLED™ Advanced display with qHD resolution dishes out beautiful images and smooth action so on-the-go movies and TV shows aren’t a blur, whether customers stream from Netflix™ or rent from Android Market™. It’s the first smartphone capable of streaming movies and TV shows through Netflix with up to HD resolution.

DROID RAZR customers can take advantage of the Super AMOLED Advanced display and 4G LTE speeds to stream videos with NFL Mobile, only from Verizon. Fans can stay up to date on news, schedules and scores from their favorite teams on the go. NFL Mobile is included at no additional charge for 4G LTE customers for the remainder of the 2011 season.

If cutting-edge visuals are its beauty, apps on DROID RAZR are its brains.  Enter MotoCast™, the free Motorola app that lets you stream or download your music, pictures and more from your PC to your phone. The Smart Actions app helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level. The revolutionary webtop application allows customers to combine the device with separately sold accessories, like the Lapdock™ 100 or HD Station, unleashing the power to edit documents and browse the Web with a full Firefox® browser on a larger screen – all while charging the device

Additional features:

• Powered by Android^™ 2.3.5, Gingerbread
• 1GB RAM  for a fast user interface and multi-tasking
• 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology for crisp and clear videos
• Front-facing HD camera for video chat over 4G LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi
• 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot capable so customers can share 4G LTE speed with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
• Water repellent nanocoating protects the phone, and even the inside components, against everyday spills
• Remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts as well as voice and video chat conferencing
• Use Quickoffice® to view, create and edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your mobile device from anywhere at anytime
• Bluetooth 4.0 low energy
• 32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD^™ card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)
• Powerful 1780 mAh battery

The DROID RAZR will be available in early November for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at: www.verizonwireless.com as well as at authorized retailers. Customers can visit www.droiddoes.com/droidrazr to pre-order DROID RAZR beginning on October 27. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to  www.verizonwireless.com

 As of 3:01 this morning, you can now pre-order your iPhone 4S from Verizon. For more information, check out Verizon's press release below.

BASKING RIDGE, N. J. - Verizon Wireless today announced the new iPhone 4S will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning on Friday, October 14.  Verizon Wireless customers, as well as those who want to make iPhone 4S their reason to switch to the nation’s most reliable network, will be able to pre-order iPhone 4S online beginning on Friday, October 7 at 3:01 a.m. EDT at: www.verizonwireless.com/iPhone.  In addition, the company announced the iPhone 4 8 GB model is available now for $99.99 and has lowered pricing for iPhone 4 16 GB and 32 GB models.

iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.  With the launch of iPhone 4S also comes the launch of iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features; and iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.

“Verizon Wireless customers have embraced iPhone 4 on our network and we fully expect the enthusiasm will continue to grow for iPhone 4S,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless.  “With more and more customers depending on their iPhone every day, it is important that they have the device they can count on and a network that delivers.  As millions of customers can attest - reliability matters.”

Verizon iPhone 4S customers can travel globally and seamlessly in over 220 countries for voice and over 205 countries for data with 140 of those countries offering 3G data speeds. Global service at Verizon Wireless includes 24 hour customer service from trained Verizon Wireless U.S.-based employees.  Verizon Wireless global service was selected by readers of Global Traveler Magazine as the Best Wireless Service in the World in the 2010 GT Tested Reader Survey.

Pricing & Availability 

iPhone will be available starting at $199.99 for the 16 GB model, $299.99 for the 32 GB model and $399.99 for the 64 GB model with a new two-year customer agreement. 

Customers will need to purchase a voice plan beginning at $39.99 for 450 minutes and a data plan beginning at $30 for 2 GB monthly access.  The iPhone 4 8 GB model is available now for $99.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. iPhone 4 16 GB model is $149.99 and the 32 GB model is now $199.99 with a new two year contract.

iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 will be available at more than 2,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide, online at  www.verizonwireless.com/iphone and by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN. 

There's one thing I've learned since we started Tag Team Tech and that's the fact that people can get very set in their cell phone ways.  Especially in their smart phone ways. There's the whole iOS vs. Android argument. And within Android, there are several flavors of the operating system for people to choose from. Once you get acclimated with one version, it is often hard to switch to another.

I've never been a big fan of the HTC Sense UI in the past. It was one of the reason I didn't care for the HTC Incredible. Well, that and its weird topographic back. As a Droid X owner, I guess I like my Android OS Moto Blur. Oh, and how the phone feels in my hand is a major consideration.

We recently got the opportunity to test out a HTC Thunderbolt. I can tell you the first thing that bugged me and still bugs me is the loud, annoying thunderstorm simulation every time you start up the phone. Yes, there are ways to make it go away or change it, but they usually require putting your phone on silent or rooting your phone. 

One thing I have always liked about the HTC Sense UI is how pretty it is right out of the box.  It comes with the Verizon "Scene" as default which isn't bad, but I've used enough Sense phones now that I can switch it to the HTC Scene with just five taps. (Full disclosure: I've got a widget that puts a HTC Sense like flip clock on my Droid X. Would love to find a widget that looks exactly like it.)

The form factor of the Thunderbolt is very much like its older sibling the HTC Evo. The actual phone is a bit wider and a bit shorter than the Droid X. Also like the Evo, it comes with a "kickstand" on the back to prop the phone up in horizontal mode. It does pass the "I like how it feels in my hand" test.

The Gallery interface on the Thunderbolt is much nicer than the equivalent on the Droid X. It's much more intuitive and responsive. Another feature I'd love to have on my Droid X where the Gallery and I are often at war.

There are some things to watch out for. I will never understand why HTC feels the need to swap the positions of the Home and Menu buttons. Okay, I also don't know why Motorola thought the order of the buttons should be Menu, then Home, then Back and then Search. All I'm asking for is some consistency on this. I was always tapping Menu when I wanted Home and vice versa on the Thunderbolt.

Another thing to watch out for is that the difference in time between waking the phone up from sleep and shutting it down seems to be incredibly small. This is especially true when compared to how it is set up on the Droid X. I turned this unit off many times when I was just trying to wake it up. But there were also many times that, after trying to wake it up repeatedly, I had no choice but to make the phone re-boot. Not good.

Part of the reason for the wake up/shut down problem was the fact that the battery life on the Thunderbolt is short. 4G LTE is a very nice thing, but it kills the battery life. If I was going to buy one of these, I would definitely think hard about investing in an extended battery for it. Unfortunately, the extended battery for the Thunderbolt is very fat and the required cover for it juts out quite a bit ruining the nice hand feel of the phone.

All in all, the HTC Thunderbolt is a very good phone, especially for Sense UI fans. If I weren't already so acclimated to my Droid X, I would definitely consider it.

In case you've been living under a rock lately...

Verizon Wireless announced today that iPad 2 will be available at select Verizon Wireless stores nationwide beginning Friday, March 11 at 5 p.m. local time. Verizon Wireless will offer three iPad 2 models that run on the nation’s most reliable 3G network: $629.99 for the 16 GB model, $729.99 for the 32 GB model and $829.99 for the 64 GB model, available in black or white.

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen.  iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time.  Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.

iPad 2 and 3G Network Data Plans

Verizon Wireless offers several data plans for iPad 2, beginning at $20 per month. All data plans will be available without a contract, providing the freedom to activate or cancel a plan at any time.  The following plans are available for iPad 2 users on America ’s most reliable 3G network:

Monthly Usage Cost	Data Allowance
$20 per month	1 GB per month
$35 per month	3 GB per month
$50 per month	5 GB per month
$80 per month	10 GB per month

 

For more information about iPad 2 from Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com/iPad, go to any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or call 1-800-2 JOIN IN.

 

* Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

VERIZON WIRELESS OFFERS EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR CUSTOMERS TO PRE-ORDER IPHONE 4 ON FEB. 3
Pre-registered Customers Can Order iPhone 4 One Week Before General Availability

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Apple today announced an exclusive opportunity for Verizon Wireless’ 94 million customers to pre-order an iPhone 4 online beginning at 3 a.m. EST on Feb. 3. In an unprecedented move, Verizon Wireless has set aside a limited quantity of iPhone 4 smartphones solely for existing customers. Orders will be shipped to arrive on or before Feb. 10.

“We appreciate our many customers who told us that iPhone 4 should be on the nation’s most reliable network,” said Dan Mead, chief executive officer for Verizon Wireless. “We heard them and we agreed, which is why we are letting them be among the first to own an iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network. We thought it fitting to say thank you to our customers by giving them the phone they want, a week before the general population.”

Pricing and Availability iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network is priced at $199.99 for the 16 GB iPhone 4 or $299.99 for the 32 GB iPhone 4 with a new two-year customer agreement. Beginning at 3 a.m. EST on Thursday, customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/iphone to order their iPhone 4.

To enjoy all the features of their new iPhone 4 smartphone, customers can subscribe to a Nationwide Talk plan (beginning at $39.99 for 450 minutes) or a Nationwide Talk and Text plan (beginning at $59.99 and includes unlimited text, picture and video messaging) as well as an unlimited Email and Web data plan, available for $29.99 per month.

The iPhone 4 also gives customers a unique 3G Mobile Hotspot feature that can power up to 5 devices over Wi-Fi. The 3G Mobile Hotspot plan is $20 per month for 2 GB. iPhone 4 will be available to the general population on Feb. 10. For more information about the iPhone 4 on the nation’s most reliable network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/iphone.

Lots of news out of last week's Consumer Electronics Show. It will be interesting to test the Droid Bionic side-by-side with the new Verizon iPhone.

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA MOBILITY ANNOUNCE DROID™ BIONIC ON NATION’S FASTEST, MOST ADVANCED 4G NETWORK

 

New Android Device Combines Dual-core Processor with Fastest 4G Network for Unrivaled Mobile Internet Experience

 

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today unveiled DROID^™ BIONIC, a powerful new Android^™ smartphone.

Packing a dual core processor with each core running at 1GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power, and 512 MB RAM, the sleekly designed DROID BIONIC smartphone with 4G LTE delivers a mobile Internet experience that’s up to 10 times faster than 3G.  This means consumers can stream their favorite music and the latest TV shows with unparalleled quality experience.  DROID BIONIC also races through loading of complex web pages and media that take advantage of Adobe^® Flash^® Player and HTML5, rendering graphics faster than previous generation single-core devices.

Motorola’s DROID BIONIC gives new meaning to the word “socialize” by delivering multiple ways for customers to stay connected.  With the device’s front-facing VGA camera and See What I See video feature, consumers can share experiences – either via Wi-Fi or 4G – with family, friends and co-workers. A rear-facing 8-megapixel camera also allows consumers to capture their favorite pictures and videos.

DROID BIONIC’s multiplayer gaming capabilities allow consumers to challenge friends to live peer-to-peer gaming, viewed through the device’s 4.3-inch qHD quality screen that delivers console-quality graphics.  DROID BIONIC’s HDMI connectivity also enables consumers to connect the device to their HD televisions to experience their favorite games, as well as purchased HD content, in full 1080p.  And for multi-taskers, DROID 4G’s Mirror Mode function enables simultaneous streaming of video to the TV and on the device.

As a fully featured work device, DROID BIONIC comes equipped with corporate email, remote wipe and data security and encryption capabilities IT departments appreciate.  DROID BIONIC also features productivity tools such as Quickoffice^® for document review and editing, full calendar management, one-click access to conference calling, and a full suite of Google applications and services. 

“DROID BIONIC brings to life the speed and power of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, giving consumers an unrivaled mobile experience,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “Whether downloading movies in minutes, connecting with friends or co-workers through video conferencing, or blazing through the Internet, Motorola’s DROID BIONIC is what the 4G LTE experience is all about.”

 “DROID BIONIC is the epitome of speed, providing consumers with instantaneous access to their personal and work content, anytime and anyplace,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility.  “By combining such a powerful mobile device with the performance and capabilities of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, we’re empowering consumers to define how they want to live their mobile lifestyles.”  

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network.  Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwrieless.com/lte and for more information about Verizon Wireless at CES please visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/verizonwireless.>

Press release on today's Verizon iPhone announcement

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey and CUPERTINO, California—January 11, 2011—Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that the iPhone® 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning on Thursday, February 10. Qualified Verizon Wireless customers will be given the exclusive opportunity to pre-order iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.

 

iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina™ display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime®, which makes video calling a reality. iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless will also include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

“We are pleased to introduce millions of wireless users to the industry leading iPhone 4 on the nation’s most reliable network,” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon. “This is an important step for the industry as two great companies join forces to give wireless customers one of the most important technological additions to the mobile landscape this century.”

“Verizon Wireless customers have told us they can't wait to get their hands on iPhone 4, and we think they are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We have enormous respect for the company Verizon has built and the loyalty they have earned from their customers.”

iPhone 4 features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 chip, a 3-axis gyro and a beautiful glass and stainless steel design like no other mobile phone. iPhone 4 also comes with iOS 4, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, which includes multitasking, folders, Game Center, AirPlay® and AirPrint wireless printing.  iPhone 4 customers have access to the world’s most popular App Store℠ with more than 300,000 apps available in an incredible range of 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health and reference.

Pricing & Availability

iPhone 4 will be available on the Verizon Wireless network beginning Thursday, February 10 for a suggested retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 32GB model with a new two year customer agreement. iPhone 4 will be available at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide, online at  www.verizonwireless.com/iphone, at Apple Retail Stores, at the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple Authorized Resellers, and by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN.

Given all the rumors lately (and not so lately), the announcement doesn't really come as a surprise. But, it does lend credence to possibility of an iPhone on Verizon in the not so distant future. While some current iPhone owners are quick to point out that the iPad isn't really on Verizon--it's simply using a Verizon MiFi, it's actually a great combination and exactly what we've been doing since we got our WiFi iPads day one. Also, notice that the press release never claims that the iPad itself is on Verizon. Now, $20 for one GB of data does seem very expensive. This is especially true when you consider that the Android phones on Verizon got 2 GB of data for the same price when tethering. This may be an experiment on Verizon's part to see what the market will bear.

Verizon Wireless Offers iPad at Stores Nationwide on October 28

 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that iPad™ will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide beginning Thursday, October 28. Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis. “This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.” “We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.” iPad allows users to browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad Wi-Fi models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life.* Apple’s App Store℠ offers iPad users access to the world’s largest catalog of apps with over 280,000 apps and more than 30,000 iPad specific apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. With Apple’s iBookstore℠, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device, iPad users have access to more than 100,000 books from major and independent publishers. MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The MiFi 2200’s rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge. Customers can sign up for more information on Apple’s iPad together with Verizon Wireless’ MiFi 2200 at www.verizonwireless.com/iPad, at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN. *Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary. Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.