After much rumor and speculation, Verizon has released two Google Android based smartphones: The Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris on November 06, 2009. http://www.product-reviews.net/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-and-htc-droid-eris-release-date-on-verizon-confirmed/

The Motorola Droid comes equipped with Google Android OS version 2.0, Google Maps, and can be purchased for $199.99 (US) with a new 2yr contract, or for $149.99 as an upgrade with a 2yr contract. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/28/droid_arrives_on_verizon_nov_6_with_google_maps_navigation.html

The HTC DROID Eris is equipped with Google Android OS version 1.5 and can be purchased for $199.99 with a new 2yr contract. http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/htc-droid-eris-verizon/4505-6452_7-33799594.html?tag=txt%3bpage#cnetReview

As of 01/05/2010, It is also said that Verizon will be selling Google's Nexus One smartphone (currently only available on T-Mobile) in Spring of 2010. http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100105/verizon-wireless-to-sell-googles-nexus-one/

Google Android, also known as "Droid", is the operating system build by Google to be installed on smartphones and was released on 5 November 2007 http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/wheres-my-gphone.html.

The first smartphone to ship with the Android OS was on the T-Mobile network and is named the T-Mobile G1. http://www.t-mobileg1.com/.

The Android OS features or supports:

• Support for most media types: MPEG4 | H.264 | MP3 | AAC | AMR | JPG | PNG | GIF

• GSM Telephony

• Bluetooth | EDGE | 3G | WiFi

• Camera

• GPS

• Compass

• Accelerometer

• An open SDK for creating apps using the Java Programming Language

http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html

Google has released their own Google branded smartphone, the Nexus One on the T-Mobile network, and soon on the Verizon and Vodaphone networks. http://www.google.com/phone/

The HTC Droid Eris is the second Android based smartphone released on the Verizon network.

The Eris Hardware includes:

• Proximity Sensor to turn screen off while on a phone call

• 3.2" HVGA Capacitive Touchscreen Display

• Accelerometer

• Trackball Navigator

• 3.5mm Headphone Jack

• MicroUSB port

• MicroSD Slot

• 5-Megapixel Camera, no Flash http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/331988/review/droid_eris.html

• Bluetooth

• WiFi

The Eris Software includes:

• Android OS 1.5

• Verizon Visual Voice mail

• USB Mass Storage

• POP3 Email Support

• QuickOffice

• PDF Reader

• Access to many more apps on the Google App store

The Motorola DROID is one of the first Android based smartphones to be released on the Verizon network.

The DROID hardware includeshttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid-review/:

• Full QWERTY Keyboard with 5-way rocker
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• MicroUSB Port
• 5 Megapixel Camera with Flash (takes pictures and video
• Hi-Res 3.7 inch Capacitive Touchscreen with 480x854 Resolution
• Arm Cortex A8 CPU running at 550MHz
• 256MB RAM
• 512MB ROM

The DROID software includeshttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid-review/:

• Google Android 2.0 Operating System
• Google Maps
• Support for multiple Gmail and Exchange accounts
• Integrated Facebook support
• Turn-By-Turn Navigation support
• Music Player
• And all the Apps found on the Google Android App Store

• CNN Money: Google Phone: No Verizon Deal Yet (November 1, 2007)

• BusinessWeek: In Search of a Google-Verizon Deal (October 31, 2007)

• Bloomberg: Google in Talks with Verizon, Sprint... (October 31, 2007)

• Wall Street Journal: Verizon, Google Discuss Mobile Phone Partnership (October 30, 2007)

• Wall Street Journal: Can Google-Powered Phones Connect With Carriers? (October 30, 2007)

• Macworld: Report: Google phone platform due out in mid 2008 (October 30, 2007)

• iMedia Connection: Google's Mobile Revolution Imminent (October 30, 2007)

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  Possible Google/Verizon Phone (Image by Conrad Quilty-Harper)