Motorola 'fighting back' with next-generation Droid

Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc. Wednesday unveiled its next-generation Android phone with Verizon Wireless service - the Droid X - that goes head to head with HTC's Incredible and Apple's iPhone4 smartphones.

Droid X, with a 1-gigahertz processor, features its own Wi-Fi hot spot that can connect up to five devices, including a PC. It also offers high-definition capture as well as play and share video, all on a 4.3-inch touch screen display.

"Verizon is fighting back," said Mark McKechnie, an analyst with Broadpoint AmTech Inc. in San Francisco. "I'm sure that there are more Droid phones to come, especially before the holiday season."

Motorola, Verizon Wireless, Google, and Adobe executives announced the Droid advance at a joint news conference with reporters in New York, San Francisco and Chicago. This is Motorola's 11th smartphone, although the company unveiled its first Droid with Verizon about nine months ago. Motorola said earlier that it intends to unveil about 20 smartphones this year.

"It gets more and more exciting on what's possible," Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha told reporters. s

His strong belief in the Google Android platform as the future of smartphones was evident.

"It's the largest opportunity in technology today," Jha said.

Executives couldn't say if it was coincidence or planning that they unveiled the Droid X now, right before the availability of the iPhone 4. Some said it was merely part of the process of getting the phone to market and before the back-to-school push.

John Stratton, Verizon's chief marketing officer, said the phone will start shipping around July 15 and will cost $199.99, including a $100 rebate and with a two-year service contract.

Talk plans start around $39.99 and a monthly smartphone data plan around $29.99 for unlimited access. There's an additional $20 per month for the Wi-Fi hot spot usage.

Other Droid X features include:

• 8 gigabytes, expandable up to 40 gigabytes of memory;

• 8 megapixel digital zoom camera that can produce panoramic photos;

• HDTV, HD video capture, playback and share;

• Dimensions are 2.6 x 5 x 0.4 inches and weight is 5.47 ounces;

• Pre-loaded apps and services include Skype mobile, NFL Mobile, VCast, Blockbuster On Demand, Google Maps with Street View, Google Latitude, YouTube widget, Google Search by Voice and Gmail and Google Search. An optional widget will aggregate updates from Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.