First verizon news from CES. Good and Bad.

[kraze0g]

okay guys, finally news leaked. and looks like verizon is gonna be either hit or miss. we are NOT getting a new HTC Passion this early as some thought, it seems that verizon has a close relationship with motorola so you better get used to it ;\

As i've stated before i follow the feeds on these new early android phones, and basically, its been pretty much confirmed that HTC's only focus right now is the Nexus One. It is HTC's pride and glory as it will be completely 'googlized' and will only be avaliable on the t-mobile network (figures since they have been together the longest).. so as far as i know and what i've been reading, goodbye htc rumors for verizon this early in the year. They also stated the the droid eris will become quote "long in the tooth" once this new device is launched.

Bigger news is with motorola (the only company that seems to have any relationship right now with CES and verizon) will be releasing a new android based phone for AT&T with oled screen and physical keyboard but will lack many basics such as 2.0 OS, instead running on 1.6.

For us verizon users, it is also stated this morning that motorola "may announce" (yes they will) a second android phone for verizon wireless. forget about the droid devour, this phone is rumored to have ONLY a soft keyboard, no hardware keyboard. Could this be the sholes that have been rumored? images have been leaked so be sure to check it out. the phone is also supposed to pack a punch with 800mhz and has a more consumer friendly design with rounded edges. Also comes packed with a 8megapixel camera! Earlier reports said that the next motorola phone was going to be 'little brother droid', the devour. Boy, would this be a laughing stock. That thing belongs somewhere in toys 'r us!

the fact that htc is now moving away from its only 'google phone' to compete with the world and instead teaming with t-mobile is a bit sad for many do not like motorola. but its going to be something we may have to live with for awhile.

This is heartbreaking for me because I was going to pick up the Droid today (30th), but now I want to see about this new motorola phone coming to verizon. If its the sholes and the leaked pictures are correct, it looks like a very nice device running 2.1.

Verizon/Motorola will be holding the announcement on the 6th of January (day after the release of the nexus one, who would have guessed). I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I hope some of you find this information interesting. if you want more information, go to google and look up new verizon android phone (might even want to throw motorola in there) and look at the LATEST news.

I guess we've been hit by some good and bad news.

One question for people who usually follow CES, when an announcement of a new phone is put up, how long does it usually take for the phone to hit the market?

 

[deftdrummer]

Links, sources, pictures? All Here say without.

 

[kraze0g]

too lazy to google eh ;\

heres one link, but as of this morning around 1:00 AM there are NUMEROUS websites all saying the same thing...

http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2009/12/30/ces-2010-to-see-2-new-motorola-android-phones/

Motorola Backflip and Devour Android phones to debut at CES? – Android and Me

don't be fooled by the "devour" reference, the main rumor is this is a soft keyboard only device as referenced by just about every other mobile website.

sholes
http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/motorola_xt701_sholes_tablet_leak_3-540x360.jpg

 

[deftdrummer]

I too am a bit sad, but also worried about the Nexus lol. I'm sad that it won't be coming to Verizon anytime soon, and worried because now us Droid users will have an Android phone on the market that is arguably better on paper. Albeit, Tmo and AT&T are slouches when compared to VZ, but they are still two major players. Not to mention the phone will be released to both at the same exact time, which shows that this phone will be significant to the Android platform.

You said early reports are saying the new Motorola phone was supposed to essentially be the little brother to the Droid, but what is it rumored to be now? With an 8MP camera it sounds like they are trying to ramp up for the next release rather than underscore. It will be interesting to see what happens for sure in the next 3 to 4 months with Verizon and especially with Apple's Spring iphone release.

 

[Legacystar]

all i have to say is HAHA to all those people that said "don't buy a droid! passion is coming in jan." this is why you don't wait for the next best thing.

 

[cdmta]

So news about motorola/verizon at CES means no news about HTC, makes sense.

 

[kraze0g]

HTC = t-mobile teammates in what could be the first pure google phone.

does anyone know if there's a time frame from when phones are 'announced' at CES to when they are avaliable to the consumer? or is there never a set pattern? do they ever announce a definite date for the release?

seems like with the nexus one coming out, this new motorola wouldn't be far off.

 

[bobo5884]

Bah. I dont see why you will wait. If you wait for that phone. After you buy it....boom! A new better one will be out next month. There is always going to be something better. I got the best for now on a great service.

 

[boatman]

the good news is that the more android phones out there, the bigger the market for sw devs, which means more apps! This to me is the critical factor. Smart phones need apps, sw devs want # of handsets out there to write for.

I truly believe that if all the carriers get great android phones, everyone wins.

 

[DroidJnkie]

I honestly don’t get what all the anger is about.

So a phone that is better than our Droid is coming out. Wow! I never thought that would happen! I believed that we had reached the zenith, the pinnacle, of all technological advancement in the smartphone industry in the Droid! Oh nooooo! I am going to kill myself!!

Seriously guys. Get a grip. Who cares. The Droid rocks. In a year, there will be phones that make the Nexus One look like a piece of crap. And the Droid like a bigger piece of crap. But, at the end of those 2 years, guess what! You can get the next best thing! And then see it become “obsolete” in a few months again! All of this flying back and forth, pissed off and upset, just makes you a slave to your wallet and to the latest gadgets. Live your lives! It’s sunny outside! Go run!

 

[vincentp]

Who cares? Are we all planning on dropping the Droid the second something new comes out?

 

[chuk1005]

Who cares? Are we all planning on dropping the Droid the second something new comes out?

Lol I for one am not getting rid of the Droid for a good while, people have device envy now days.....soon as the next new thing comes out they have to have it.

 

[eclipsed4utoo]

Who cares? Are we all planning on dropping the Droid the second something new comes out?

Only those who want to pay the $375 ETF. I could care less. I have the phone I want.

For those who want "the best thing", you won't ever get a phone. When the Passion is about to be released, there will be rumors of the next great phone with some ungodly features, and you will want to wait for that. Then when that phone is about to release, there will be rumors about the next great phone with even more ungodly features, and you will want to wait for that one. The cycle will continue until 3 years down the road, you still have your old phone because you kept waiting.

 

[kraze0g]

my problem is i was going to gett the droid today and trade in the eris, then i read this and see a phone w/o the keyboard (that i really dont need) that looks pretty sexy (compared to the leaked pics earlier). i mean if it comes out within a couple weeks then i may wait before just buying the droid today..

IF ONLY this new motorola was gonna be the devour, i wouldn't have a second thought as to what to get. that toy looking thing would have made me happy if that was what motorola was referring to.

i guess ill wait till the 6th then. (unless more information comes out :x)

-jen

 

[Tim K]

Not to mention the phone will be released to both at the same exact time, which shows that this phone will be significant to the Android platform.

The nexus will only work on T-mobile at least in 3G - according to documents it doesn't have ATT's 3G frequency.

I think its a silly move quite frankly to limit yourself as a phone manufacturer. I guess if its a test run for google its a good start with a small release. I still say Apple is dumb for having such a long exclusivity with ATT. Considering how many subscribers VZW has that won't leave the safety of Big Red's network...

 

[eclipsed4utoo]

The nexus will only work on T-mobile at least in 3G - according to documents it doesn't have ATT's 3G frequency.

I think its a silly move quite frankly to limit yourself as a phone manufacturer. I guess if its a test run for google its a good start with a small release. I still say Apple is dumb for having such a long exclusivity with ATT. Considering how many subscribers VZW has that won't leave the safety of Big Red's network...

the Nexus One will also be purchasable as an unlocked phone, which means it isn't bound to a specific carrier. This is how most of Europe works. Don't know if the Nexus One is both CDMA and GSM or just one of them.

 

[andrew53517]

I bet you since the DROID is doing so well in sales, that motorola will continue to update it (2.1, 2.x 3.0 and maybe one more) due to them being the ones who update it. I bet you we will continue to get the updates for this one to not be "outdated" at least in software. The processor should be fine for at least a year or so..

 

[emdmao]

It is unlocked as GSM only. It will only work on TMO's 3g, and EDGE on ATT. Pretty stupid if you ask me. I am getting the Droid on Jan. 7 for my fiancee and myself (her sprint contract is up then, those bastards charge $200 nonprorated cancellation fee unless you signed up after November 08). If there is any new information coming soon regarding a 2.1 android phone on verizon I hope it is announced before then

 

[Redflea]

the Nexus One will also be purchasable as an unlocked phone, which means it isn't bound to a specific carrier. This is how most of Europe works. Don't know if the Nexus One is both CDMA and GSM or just one of them.

It's GSM, evidently of the variety supported by TMobile. I haven't seen any discussion of a CDMA version to date.

Don't know why people would want an N1 on the wimpy TMobile network...<ick>

 

[Redflea]

I bet you since the DROID is doing so well in sales, that motorola will continue to update it (2.1, 2.x 3.0 and maybe one more) due to them being the ones who update it. I bet you we will continue to get the updates for this one to not be "outdated" at least in software. The processor should be fine for at least a year or so..

I don't know if anyone knows, or has posted authoritatively on who controls the Android phone update process, but clearly since Google owns the OS they have a huge say in when Android phones get updated and to what version. Verizon is likely more involved in the update decision process than Moto, since the phone gets updated via their network, for their customers, and given Moto's current overall weakness relative to Google and VZW, Moto may just go along for the ride once, they release a phone.

 

[kraze0g]

it'd be funny if the moto's release was actually the devour since that was what was planned and this is simply bad reporting. OR if it ends up being some slightly modified opus one (which is also an ugly phone). i'd go right to the droid.

 

[CRPercodani]

Whether Motorola sends out updates or not won't matter, it is easy enough to upgrade manually. The DROID is a great device and something better coming out isn't gonna change that. The Nexus is going to be sold unlocked also but it ONLY has the proper radio hardware to use T-Mobile's 3G bands (1700Mhz & 2100Mhz) so you will only get Edge on AT&T, and no it doesn't have ANY CDMA radio's so it won't work on VZW or Sprint.

 

[eclipsed4utoo]

it'd be funny if the moto's release was actually the devour since that was what was planned and this is simply bad reporting. OR if it ends up being some slightly modified opus one (which is also an ugly phone). i'd go right to the droid.

well, most of this "reporting" is nothing but rumors.

 

[chrlswltrs]

Who cares? Are we all planning on dropping the Droid the second something new comes out?

I am and happily paying retail for the first good phone on Verizon without a physical keyboard!!

 

[Optimus]

Yes within reason. Unlike the iPhone Android is simply a platform. Whether it is the Droid 2 or an HTC.
As easy as a G1 user switching to a Droid or Nexus One.

Who cares? Are we all planning on dropping the Droid the second something new comes out?