(Image via Engadget Mobile)
Verizon and Google more or less declared war on Apple and AT&T today. Not really. But kinda.
The companies held a joint press conference this morning, at which they "announced a strategic partnership that will leverage the Verizon Wireless network and the best of the Android™ open platform to deliver leading-edge mobile applications, services and devices," according to a VZW press release. The two companies' head honchos, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, got together in New York City to talk Android, open networks, and the like.
Verizon's official line is that Android phones will hit Big Red "within the next few weeks." More specifically (sorta), "Verizon Wireless and Google plan to co-develop several Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with innovative applications from both parties as well as third-party developers. The family of Android phones on the Verizon Wireless network will come from leading handset manufacturers."
Two things of note here:
1. See that photo of Schmidt (left) and McAdam up there at the top? Looks like Eric's got Verizon's version of the HTC Hero while Lowell's holding the Motorola Sholes/Tao/Droid. That image with the nicely zoomed insets of the handsets? That's all Engadget Mobile's work.
2. Verizon also launched a big, fat anti-AT&T ad campaign with the tag line, "There's a map for that." No, seriously. So it's actually an anti-AT&T AND anti-Apple campaign, since the tag line is a clear send-up of iPhone's "There's an app for that," line. While this could mean absolutely nothing, it kinda sorta throws some cold water on that whole "iPhone to Verizon" idea, no? Check out the video over on YouTube.
Looks like Big Red and Ma Bell are all geared up to battle it out for the title of Biggest (if not Bestest) Cell Phone Carrier in the United States ... Steel Cage Match style. Should be fun.
