Get a Motorola Droid for $149.99 shipped

As you may have heard, Verizon Wireless' Motorola-made Droid smartphone goes on sale November 6. It's all anybody can talk about and arguably the most anticipated new phone since, well, the iPhone.

Verizon is selling it for $199.99 after a mail-in rebate, but Wirefly has the Motorola Droid for $149.99 shipped, no rebates required. (As always, there's that pesky two-year contract.)

Do you want to know more about this iPhone killer phone? Start with this CNET video, and then read the complete review.

When you're done watching, check out the Android Atlas blog for a lot of Droid-related goodness. (In case you didn't know, the phone runs Google's Android operating system--hence the name.)

I just got my first hands-on time with the Droid, and it's a mighty nice phone. It's a little heavy, but Android is really looking sharp and a lot of developers are starting to hop on board the platform.

Granted, it'll be awhile before we see 100,000 apps like there is for the iPhone, but you can already get cool stuff like Facebook, Foursquare, Slacker Radio, and the much-ballyhooed new Google Maps Navigation app.

So if you've been drooling over this phone and planning an early morning trip to your local Verizon store, consider Wirefly's deal instead. It'll save you 50 bucks and let you shop in your pajamas (always a plus).

Show of hands: Who's planning to bring home a Droid? If I weren't already an iPhone owner, I'd be very seriously considering it.

[Jay Jennings]

From just a "normal person" perspective I can't see anything that would make me switch from my iPhone -- but as a developer I'll probably end up getting one because it's most likely going to end up being a big platform to program for.

Jay Jennings

[blusky08]

It's great if you want to be tied to Google at the hip. For example, you must even have a Google Gmail account to get apps! If you like Google and their creepy invasive software and poliicies, then go for it.

http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Support/US-EN/Mobile%20Phones/DROID-by-Motorola/US-EN/Documents/Static-Files/DROID_UG_Verizon_68000202474a.pdf

[blusky08]

If you use Google, Gmail, Google Desktop, etc., you should educate yourself about how this company operates and with whom it is aligned:
[CNET editors' note: URL removed.]

[blusky08]

If you use Google, Gmail, Google Desktop, etc., you should educate yourself about how this company operates and with whom it is aligned:
Just go to an organization called "Google Watch".

[chrisfrary]

Only if you are a new customer, and you can get this price from verizon if you qualify for new every two. Wirefly also has it for 179 for existing but I don't know how it works for family share plans.

[carbine68]

I was told today by a rep that if i wait for my new every two, which is coming up in a couple of weeks, I can get the phone for $199 and get a $100 rebate.

So for me, the Droid will be $99.00

[toddtee]

What no one seems to have noticed is that the $149 price requires you to take a $60 a month phone plan, $20 a month more than that required to get the phone for $200.

[baggyguy1218]

Its as if the phones are going in reverse slightly. Why have a physical keyboard? Has Verizon not learned from other carriers that slide ups break? Its the same as the MyTouch and Hero internally but "wow its a new phone" but wait, MyTouch and Hero will also have 2.0 android will they be a iPhone killer then? Maybe...if someone attatches a plastic keyboard to them.

[Ray180]

What are you talking about? I've never heard of a slide out keyboard breaking. Many, many people still want a physical keyboard, thus the continued success of the Crackberries. Besides, this keyboard is different because it isn't spring assisted. That means fewer moving parts and tighter tolerances. I've read from multiple source there is not wobble, creaking or give whatsoever in this slider. If you don't like a physical keyboard, it does virtual too, of course. But why would you want a virtual keyboard blocking half of the screen anyway? That's just silly.

One more thing: Do the MyTouch or Hero have a 3.7" screen (that's 480x854 btw), a 5 mp camera with dual LED flash and image stabilization, DVD quality video recording, free Google maps turn-by-turn navigation and a 550 hz processor? Yeah, they sure will be just like a Droid once they get 2.0, whenever that happens.

[Donniebrasco]

I actually like the second option the physical keyboard provides. If your touch screen only phone's screen starts crapping out, your sunk. With something like the Droid or Touch Pro, you could continue to use your phone with the physical keyboard and trackpad. Same for if the keyboard were to break, you would still have the touch screen interface to use. It might make the phone a tad bit thicker, but thats fine with me.

[billeeyum]

it has different graphics processing than the mytouch and hero that helps make it much faster. I used a mytouch before the droid and you can tell the difference. they even have several graphics options turned on out of the box that are disabled by default on the mytouch

[Donniebrasco]

I'll stick with my Omnia and no data cap for now, plus the ability to tether for free if I want to put the software on there. I just read VZW is trying to get $60 for capped data and tethering...ouch. Will some mobile provider please step up and really undercut the other guys? If AT&T and VZW keep raising rates like this, it might be time for a Sprint Everything Plan when my contract runs out.

[igl00lgi]

They are on their way. Get ready to short these guys.

[ejaymd11]

The data plan is 30 dollars not 60 get the facts.

[JebusWankel]

@ejaymd11, it's $30 for the data and an additional $30 for tethering, though you rightfully get your data cap doubled.

[joejmcnulty]

I pre-ordered from best buy, so I will be picking it up at 10AM when they open. Its about time Verizon got a decent phone.

[PeteyBrian]

True dat Joe - It's about darn time Verizon... Screen looks beautiful, camera/flash is nice, video rec good, browser good, and fast. I just have a few questions on how music and video are to work on the Droid. I will use my unlocked/jb iPhone overseas since the Droid will be a brick on Verizon's technology/network overseas.

[Ray180]

The only indecision I have is whether to get a Droid or Eris.

Droid = 3.7" screen, Google navigation, Android 2.0, physical keyboard

Eris = Sense UI, multi-touch, smaller form factor, less initial cost

I actually think I'd rather have multi-touch than Google navigation. Can't go wrong either way, really. Fortunately, I'm due for New Every Two so I can get the Eris for free and Droid for $100. Can't beat that!

[Certifiedfryguy]

I thought VZW changed the new every 2 to only a $50 Rebate.

[jets2400]

Droid does have multi-touch....

[Ray180]

Maybe that grandfathered that in, cause I logged on my Verizon account today and went through the upgrade options to see the discounts. I'm still seeing $100 off. Curiously, when I clicked on "Buy Now" in the Droid email they sent me today, it did say it would cost $150 for existing customers.

[eddyg2]

If you've already had a smartphone with Verizon and you are up for you "new every two", then the Droid is only $100. Verizon gives you $100 credit if you've been using a smartphone for your last two years.

[imapc]

As said before, Droid does have multi-touch. It's currently available in the PicSay application for Android 2.0. This is "with Google" experience phone so some of the things people are griping about it WILL eventually have. And eventually doesn't mean every year or couple of months but as little as a few hours or days for developers to find ways to get the latest and greatest on the phone!

There are already ways out there for Android phones to be tethered via rooting and elsewhere if you don't want to root your phone.

[ThatDuckGuy]

Someone already IS undercutting them. Sprint. They just aren't nearly as popular.

[krubby]

I think that is because coverage and quality wise IMP Sprint is much worse than Verizon. I had sprint for years, different phones, lived in different locations, and always had all kinds of issues. Switched to verizon last spring and couldn't be happier.

I don't know if this is a fair comparison, but went into Huge Sprint store to cancel old plan and there were 4 salesmen and zero cutomers. went to Verizon store that was literally 500 yards away immediately afterwards, walked in and there were 20 + customers and a 15 minute wait time to speak to one of their ~ 10 -12 salemen working. kind of told me which is more popular as limited as a sample that was I admit

[Donniebrasco]

Well I live about 25 minutes from Sprint HQ, so I would guess that if anywhere in the country had decent Sprint service, it would be here.

Verizon's service has been fine for me. I am still a bit bitter about having to wait so long for Omnia's GPS to be unlocked after being told in December it would be Q1, 2009. The raising of the ETF, the new data cap (my plan doesn't have one), the "Exchange fee" they charge, its going to add up to "too expensive" pretty soon.

If I can get a good phone on Sprint for $100 for unlimited everything instead of $130 for a bunch of minutes and a capped data plan on VZW, I'll switch even if Sprint is only 80% as good as VZW. $30 x 24 = $720. That handful of times Sprint may let me down isn't worth spending another $720 over two years to avoid.

[toddtee]

Saying that Sprint "just (isn't) as popular" as Verizon is like saying that horsemeat isn't as popular as sirloin steak.

[wylde31]

Like Ray180 said, VzW can get it for $149 as well: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/droid.jsp?page=droiddoes&email=Responsys&CMP=EMC-C-S-g_Lnch_opt_DRD

[bosox24]

I love the Android 2.0 OS and the screen... but I'm not into the physical design of the phone at all. I might go get one today, but would prefer to wait until the next wave of Android 2.0 phones come out on Verizon. Hopefully they will have a better casing.

Does anyone know when that might be? Soon?

[Randall Flagg]

Wait for the soon to be announced HTC Passion. 1GHz Snapgragon processor, Andriod 2.0 and, if I'm not mistaken, a 4.3 inch screen. Maybe with Sense UI on it once they get it working with Android 2.0.

[Ray180]

That would be a nice processor, but 4.3" almost seems too big for a phone. I'm sure it'd be something I'd be happy to get used to though. I'm just not sure I can go that much longer with my old, orange LG enV (1st edition) with the "e" key that only works half the time and a battery that's on its last legs. There will always be something better around the corner.

[ejaymd11]

Wow that over kill. a 4.3 inch screen? for what? That's huge.

[jaffreywali]

The way I see it:...

1. If you want the best smartphone with a physical key board - get the iphone. itunes, the user interface fluidity, the web browser and the app store still makes it the benchmark product in its class.

2. If you need a physical key board because you type a lot of long emails, require MSFT Office and exchange integration then get the ATT Tilt2. Very nice screen, excellent keyboard design, excellent phone (including perhaps the best speakerphone feature ever) and for those used to windows mobile the most fluid user interface (not as smooth as the iphone but easily as good as the Pre or Droid).

3. If you want a phone mainly for navigation, entertainment and camera then you'll need to choose between an iphone and something like the Droid. The Droid has free navigation, but the iphone has a much nicer navigation interface (from what I have seen), if you have access to itunes iphone is a no brainer, if you don't use itunes then it does not matter which phone you get. As fas as camera goes, the iphone camera feature set is much nicer and the UI is better, but Droid is better in low light settings due to a flash. BUT although the Droid has a higher resolution camera it is NOT better in side by side comparisons in bright lit scenes to either the 3MP iphone camera or the HTC Tilt2.

I did a quick comparison in our office where I have the HTC Tilt2 with co workers who have an iphone and the new Droid.

The way I see it, the Droid is a blackberry killer for all those blackberry users who were using it as an entertainment platform more so than a corporate email device.

Several people have iphones in our office and I don't believe a single person is even thinking about ditching their iphone for the Droid. Based on what I have seen so far, the Droid isn't going to have close to the following that the iphone has.

My 2 cents here....

[Ray180]

You can get on board or you can get out of the way, but you can't derail the Droid Express! It's going to steamroll everything in it's path, including the iPhone. You seriously want people to choose AT&T over Verizon? For the Tilt2?!? That might have happened for the iPhone, but not now that Verizon has Android!!

[ywkhgqo]

your comparison is so biased its not even worth reading. How is the GPS better on the iphone? ITS THE SAME EXACT GOOGLE MAPS. The droid has layers though, with things like street view plus turn by turn. The fact is the droid has every feature the iphone (and more) has with the exception of video on the itunes marketplace.

And it's verizon. Which doesn't suck.

[imapc]

If by saying the the iphone has a better GPS you mean application.. then perhaps it could be true. I won't discount the iphone apps as the developers still put a lot of work into making them work for the end user.

BUT....

It's $99 for the app on iphone. It's FREE with the Droid (and soon to be all updates for other phones that receive Android 2.0, I believe). Those working on the turn-by-turn navigation apps for Android will continue with updates and make it as fluid as/if not more than the iphone competition.

[dpware]

AT&T and Android? Or are they in no rush because of iPhone?

[jaffreywali]

Also, I believe that Verizon is upping the cancellation fee to $350 since they are afraid of losing more customers to ATT and the iphone. The Verizon strategy is simple:

1. Run a series of attack ads
2. Offer a compelling product to the existing customer base
3. Make it more expensive to jump ship

That is their 1-2-3 customer retension plan.

ATT's on the other hand is simply...

1. iphone

[Ray180]

On Verizon I have superior coverage and support... on AT&T iDon't.

[andrewmarran]

@jaffreywali:

You forgot to mention the ither part of Apple/ATT retention plan:
1) Make you use Itunes, which is a really closed ecosystem (I think that its easier to go in and out of Guantanamo than to use any apple product without Itunes)
2) Do not allow you to use other software that is not made by them
3) Do not allow competition from other brands (remember google voice?)
4) Reject arbitrarily any app which might make you have more liberties with your phone
5) Steve jobs reality distortion field: I will quote an apple commercial for this "Ipod 3GS... Now with copy & paste".... as if that function has´t existed in any other platform from many years ago (remember palm Os, winmo?)...
6) Apple fanboys which do not tolerate anything that is not made by their favorite company that just bash and criticize all the good products from any other company. They will buy and boost sales of any apple product because they will buy that blindly, without even analyzing or thinking if they really need these product or if there are any other choices in the market that offer more bang for your buck.

[Stories84]

I've used Verizon for 7 years now afters switching away from T-Mobile. There's no contest when it comes to coverage, Verizon tops them all. Once other companies offer competitive service, I'll think about switching to another carrier and their phones. Until then, I'm a loyal Verizon customer.

[ywkhgqo]

is that why their churn rate is still the lowest in the business? Do some research

[JebusWankel]

I don't understand why people don't understand this. The cancellation fee + the price you pay upfront ~= the cost of the hardware. If they didn't have this, people would get a $550 piece of hardware, pay $200 + the cost of one month's service, cancel and end up profitting by several hundred dollars. The cancellation fee/24 is the price you pay for the hardware per month. Except if you don't upgrade after your contract is up, Verizon gets that amount every month from you in pure profit.

The cancellation fee increased on certain devices because these devices are more expensive, so to avoid sticker shock, Verizon makes you buy a data plan and uses the cost of the data plan to further subsidize the cost of the phone beyond the subsidy from the voice plan. The hardware of the droid does not cost $200 more than the free phones. The phones that are free with a 2 year contract are up to $200 with no contract. $550 for droid hardware - $200 voice subsidy - $200 cost = $150 data subsidy. $200 voice subsidy + $150 data subsidy = $350 the cancellation fee. Ta-da!

[jaffreywali]

If ATT coverage is an issue then you're very likely ALREADY a Verizon customer. On the other hand, if you are satisfied with ATT coverage then Verizon's slightly larger overall coverage is not a factor.

Hence, any way you slice it, the Droid is a defensive move by Verizon to stem loss of smartphone consumers to ATT, while the iphone was an aggressive move by ATT to gain market share not in the traditional cell phone market, but in the more lucrative 'smartphone' market.

Droid = defensive weapon for Verizon because it will mostly cannabalize existing Verizon blackberry customers. It isn't like the iphone which ATT used to get 'new' non ATT customers.

BIG difference between the two...

[jaffreywali]

I believe ATT churn rate in the most recent quarter was lower than Verizon.

Also, Apple locks you into their eco system with the iphone. But from ATT's perspective, the iphone locks you into their network...without needing to up the early termination fee like Verizon.

[jaffreywali]

For those interested on churn rate:

http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/10/26/att-mobility-is-nipping-at-verizons-heels/

Meanwhile, Verizon's total churn rate is going up (from 1.33% last year to 1.49% this year) while AT&T's is going down (from 1.69% to 1.43%).

[Proud_Geek]

I guess my dreams are dashed, because I want a phone that does two-way syncing with my standalone, LOCAL MS Outlook, OUT OF THE BOX. I have no intention, EVER, of using Google exclusively, and putting all my private information out there (contacts, notes, task lists, appointments, etc) for the world to see.

I guess I am stuck with Windows Mobile handsets for the forseeable future.

If the Moto Droid had native 2-way complete sync with Outlook, AND an on-board FM Tuner, I'd not be sitting here typing. I'd be in line buying one for myself AND one for my wife.

Why do phone manufacturers keep "leaving stuff out"? Is it intentional? I don't understand...

[brickman5721]

How much is it worth to you? Once I have my Droid, I'd be happy to make that feature appear for the right price ;-) Also, the paranoia about Google services is a little much, don't you think?

[Proud_Geek]

@brickman5721

I don't think I am being paranoid. I have all kinds of passwords, account numbers, and deeply-personal information on my home computer (and backed up to my home server and PDA)... I really really REALLY don't feel comfortable with that stuff being anywhere else, let alone "the cloud". I am not alone... there are many MANY users who prefer to keep things synced locally only. Think about it for a sec. I don't mind using gmail for my "throwaway" or even "semi-personal" non-critical email, but to trust my LIFE to Google? No :)

As for the two-way syncing... Not sure how much it is worth to me, but we'll see when it's available. It sounds like you might be a java developer? If you build it, I will come :) Feel free to ping me at "irokosoft at gmail dot com". Hopefully some other developers are reading this...!

[CantGetThis]

Should we really call the mobile phone service a free market?

For the life of me, I cannot understand why Cell Phones are tied to specific carriers.

The roles for device makers and carriers are clearly defined. Phone/Device makers - Design and manufacture phones. Carriers - Provide service (Voice, Data etc..). Users should be able to pick whatever device they like and whatever service they prefer.

I understand that there is a subsidy in question. But that subsidy is always a function of period of contract and the plan that the user picks.

It is a no brainer then, that tying phones to specific carriers has no purpose other than preventing the customer from choosing the best device and plan combination. Customers wanting a certain device are forced to accept the service that they do not like. Customers who like a carriers service, do not have a choice of device that they want? Is this truly a free market? Does it take that long for Congress to understand that these tie ups between device makers and carriers are unholy?

This is what I want (I'm sure a lot of other folks too):

1. Let the manufacturers sell their device at whatever price they want. Let them compete with each other on functionality and price.
2. Let the carriers offer a subsidy/discount based on the contract the user signs. Let them compete on services and tariff.

I also understand that the manufacturers and carriers would murky up this argument by bringing questions about customized UI/apps/hosting and stuff like that. But then, that is just that - confuse people with trivial stuff.

People, it is time to raise your voice against these competition killing practices.

[YayTech]

Actually, while I largely agree with you - the existing competitive structure is resulting in innovation and improvements in both service and product. Separation of phone manufacturers and service providers might result in more expensive phones. You think things like "new every 2" would exist, or be as good if there wasn't that connection? The provider would be much less inclined to care if you have a new or old phone if selling you a phone doesn't tie you into their service. What you propose would certainly have its advantages, but the existing market structure does not lack competition, and doesn't need some act of congress.

[OnanSalad]

I will not buy any smartphone until wireless providers stop overcharging their U.S. customers for data plans. That won't happen until there's more competition like Droid provides. AT&T's U.S. monopoly with the iPhone and other carrier exclusivity deals are anti-competitive and will keep plans outrageously overpriced. Consumers should be able to choose a service provider based on the service, not because a specific device is contractually enslaved to the company.

[PeteyBrian]

So true - in many other countries you buy a phone separately, then you choose a service. Data minutes are separate from calling minutes and can be purchased individually.

Here in the U.S. - AT&T believes in "TETHERING" their iPhones calling plans with their expensive "unlimited" data plans (with many limitations) - but don't allow iPhone users to "tether" their phones to their computers or use 3g with their Slingplayers!!!

[kingrah1]

I HAVE A QUESTION.
I started a new contract with verizon about 4 months ago but this site is saying that i can get the Droid with a contract extension for $150, is this REAL??

[kingrah1]

nevermind, i called verizon and they said its bogus and that id have to pay like $600, time to look on ebay