Android phones gain pace in the U.S. with new model, application

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Smartphone war intensifies in the United States as Verizon Wireless, the country's largest mobile carrier, on Wednesday formally unveiled its first handset powered by Google's Android operating system with new features such as GPS-style navigation.

Motorola co-Chief Executive Sanjay Jha shows off his company's new Droid phone, a joint venture  with Verizon Wireless phone based on Google  Inc's Android 2.0 system, during a media event  in New York October 28, 2009. Motorola Inc.  unveiled its second phone based on Google Inc's  Android system on Wednesday with U.S. market  leader Verizon Wireless, which said it will  promote the phone with its biggest marketing  campaign ever. The Droid phone, which includes  a computer-like keyboard and a new version of Google Inc's software, Android 2.0, will  go on sale for 199 U.S. dollars on Nov. 6 to  Verizon Wireless customers.(Xinhua/Reuters  Photo)

Named Droid and made by Motorola, the phone will be available in the United States exclusively at Verizon Wireless stores and online on Nov. 6 at the price of about 200 U.S. dollars with a two-year contract after a 100-dollar rebate.

The Droid is billed as the world's first smartphone with Android 2.0, latest version of the Google software and also the first device with Google Maps Navigation, a free application which can provide turn-by-turn voice guidance similar to a GPS navigation device.