Google, Motorola and Verizon have joined forces in the US to
challenge the Apple iPhone's domination of the smartphone
market.
Motorola's Droid smartphone, due for release in the US next
week, is the latest contender to take on the iPhone, running
Google's Android operating system.
The launch is a crucial for Motorola to boost its struggling
mobile phone business, according to the
Financial Times.
The Droid's success is also important for Verizon, which has
failed to secure a deal to offer the iPhone on its network in the
US, despite offering wider coverage than rival AT&T.
The tripartite alliance is determined that the Droid will
succeed where other would-be "iPhone killers" such as the
Palm Pre are struggling.
The Palm Pre has been available in the US since mid-June, but
was
launched in the UK only two weeks ago by mobile network
operator O2.
The Droid will be priced the same as entry-level iPhones in the
US and will arrive equipped with a five-megapixel camera, qwerty
keyboard and large touch screen.