Retailing for $199.99 with a two-year contract, the Motorola Droid 3 runs Google's Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" OS.
Verizon
Wireless and Motorola Mobility announced the availability of the Droid 3 by
Motorola, which sports a dual-core 1GHz processor, full QWERTY keyboard and Google's
Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" operating system. The handsets will be
available online and through Verizon Wireless Communication Stores by July 14
for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
The
Droid 3 also features an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording in 1080p HD
video, a 4-inch HD display and 3G Mobile Hotspot capabilities, with the ability
to connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices. In addition, mirror mode allows
users to view and share photos, videos and movies on a larger TV via HDMI
output (an HDMI cable is required).
Also
included with the Droid 3 are advanced security policies, device and SD card encryption,
complex password support, remote data wipe of device and SD cards, and document
and presentation viewing and editing with Quickoffice.
In
addition, Citrix GoToMeeting for Android gives users the ability to attend
online meetings while on the go, and Citrix Receiver for Android, a universal
software client, allows companies to deliver corporate apps, desktops and data
to any corporate- or employee-owned device. Rounding out the package is Adobe
Flash Player 10 capability, a front-facing camera for still shots and video
chat, and ESP smart dock technology.
Customers
who purchase a Droid 3 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide
Talk plan and a smartphone data package, according to Verizon. New Verizon
customers will have the option of smartphone plans starting at $30 for 2GB of
data, and current Verizon smartphone customers who are upgrading their
smartphone can keep their current data plan.
Starting
this week, Verizon smartphone users will begin to receive free text message
alerts when their data usage crosses thresholds of 50 percent, 75 percent, 90
percent, 100 percent and 110 percent of their data plans' monthly allowances.
Customers who are registered with My Verizon, the online account management
tool, may also request email alerts and can add up to three additional email
addresses to receive the notifications. Plus, My Verizon users have the option
of suppressing the 50 percent and 75 percent alerts. Email alerts for the same
threshold levels are already available to tablet, netbook, PC card and Mobile
Broadband device customers on usage-based plans.
Customers
can check data usage by dialing #DATA and pressing "Send" from
Verizon Wireless phones to receive a free text message with the information,
monitor data usage directly from their handsets via My Verizon Mobile or online
through My Verizon, learn about common features and activities that utilize
data, and determine estimated total monthly data usage using the Data Usage
Calculator.
Customers
with data plans can download a Data Usage Widget to most Android smartphones,
BlackBerry devices and tablets. The widget tracks usage with a glance at the
phone screen and with one click connects to the customer's My Verizon Mobile
account. Verizon has also developed a series of video guides that offer tips
for customers on how to manage their wireless lives.
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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