Verizon, T-Mobile Sign On For Motorola's Google Android Devices

Verizon, T-Mobile Sign On For Motorola's Google Android Devices

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By Andrew R Hickey, ChannelWeb

10:42 AM EDT Wed. Jun. 24, 2009

Motorola has already revealed its plans to release a host of devices based on the open-source Google Android mobile operating system, and now reports have surfaced indicating that Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA have signed on to carry the new smartphones before the year ends.

T-Mobile plans to launch a touch-screen Motorola smartphone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The handheld will be built on Android and will emphasize "social communications" services, The Wall Street Journal reported, quoting a person familiar with the device. The smartphone is expected to have a wide range of built-in social networking software from the likes of Facebook, Twitter and more.

And Verizon will take on a similar Android device from Motorola, which will also include a touch-screen and physical slide-out keyboard, The Journal added.

Earlier this year, Motorola's Android initiatives may be too little too late, as a host of Google Android-powered devices are slated to hit the market this year. Competitors such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson and others have said they will offer new smartphones based on Android in the very near future.

Motorola's entrance into the Android game also comes as device maker HTC continues to corner the Android market. So far, HTC has two Android-powered phones for sale in the T-Mobile G1 and the HTC Magic. And more are on the way. T-Mobile is preparing to launch the HTC-built T-Mobile myTouch 3G this summer. HTC also revealed this week that the new HTC Hero will be available in many locations this summer, though HTC has not indicated which carriers will offer the Google Android-based smartphone.