Droid Now Landing at Verizon

For all of the smartphone users out there who are lusting over the Apple iPhone, yet are either locked into a contract or don’t want to switch to AT&T, the iPhone’s exclusive service provider, there may be a new phone for you. The new Motorola Droid smartphone went on sale today, November 6, at Verizon Wireless.

With its multitude of features like 3.7 inch screen size (larger than the iPhone), speech recognition capability and 5 megapixel camera, the Droid also provides turn-by-turn directions courtesy of Google Maps Navigation, which may give the iPhone a run for its money. While these features are comparable to the Apple iPhone, the Droid may have its work cut out for itself. The Droid has a price tag of $200 after a $100 rebate making its costs level with the iPhone. Where the Droid will face its toughest challenge will be breaking through the popularity of other, more established smartphones that have tremendous brand loyalty among the public. Brands like Apple had consumers lining up to get an iPhone when it launched in 2007, while users of the Blackberry from Research in Motion are not too far behind when it comes to anticipating the launch of the next greatest model.

In a world where consumers have an increasing desire to have all forms of communication at our fingertips (phone, text, web browsing, camera, etc.), is the main draw to smartphones like the Droid and the iPhone more about functionality? Or is it part of a desire on the part of the consumer to portray a certain image by owning a certain phone? Afterall, products like the iPhone and Blackberry do seem to have a certain “coolness” factor that entices consumers into purchasing them so that they can be associated with a certain crowd.

How do you think Motorola’s Droid will fair in the competitive world of smartphones? Will it become the new “gotta have” product or fall by the wayside like so many others who have tried to compete and failed?