Image courtesy of Engadget Mobile
On the same day as the launch of the Motorola DROID, HTC will be launching its DROID series device in the HTC Eris for Verizon, which will also mark the debut of the DROID branding as a series of devices on Verizon Wireless.
The HTC Eris is functionally identical to the forthcoming Sprint Hero with Android 1.5, 3.2 inch HVGA resolution capacitive touchscreen display, HTC’s Sense UI overlay, 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM7600 processor with 512MB RAM/288MB ROM, microSDHC expansion slot with pre installed 8GB card and 5.0 megapixel camera with video recorder.
Pricing is set at $469.99 Retail/Month-to-Month, $269.99 after a new 1 year agreement and $199.99 after a 2 year, with the $100 mail-in rebate bringing the totals to $169.99 and $99.99 respectively, undercutting the Sprint Hero by $80.
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Is it true that the Droid is better than the famous IPhone? Does the Droid have a touch screen?
We’ve reviewed the Motorola Droid already, both the Droid and Droid Eris have touch screen.
http://www.phonenews.com/review-motorola-droid-verizon-wireless-9432/
@Niki : “Does the Droid have a touch screen?” Have you been living under a rock?!?!?!? LOL, Just kidding. Yes it has a touch screen and a bit more.
I would much rather have the HTC over the Motorola … but they aren’t going to use Android 2.0? Not sure why they would go with the 1.5 (seems a bit backwards for an introduction of a line of phones to promote new tech). If it becomes available, can they do a firmware update to the phone to push 2.0 or does it require something more than that?
Thanks
I would pick any phone over a Motorola any day. I’ve had far too many problems with Motorola hardware, so it really doesnt matter to me if they are the first to release the 2.0. HTC’s sense is an excellent excellent UI, no other phone(besides HTC hero) gives to the ability to have home 7 screens. I’m definitely going to get the Droid Eris but will be frequently checking the web to see if I can upgrade my Eris to 2.0.
Ryan – Yes Android is working on the firmware 2.0 update and will be sending out the update very soon although no date was given. It should be in the next month or two though.
Nikki – The Android phones aren’t necessarily better than the iphone, but the newer ones are equal to the iphone. I chose the Sprint HTC Hero over the iphone because you can completely customize it. It has seven homescreens, upgradeable memory, open source (so if there is a problem with software or a program, anyone across the globe with a solution can fix it and put it online for download, instead of waiting for the company to do it), and because sprint’s network is better than AT&T. I chose sprint over verizon because of their plan for 70 bux a month with unlimited calls to any cell phone provider, unlimited text, email, web/data, and 450 landline minutes. I just switched from TMobile cuz they suck haha
The heck with the Eris, I’m waiting for the Passion!
The htc droid eris will have android 2.0, regardless of what all of these leaks say.
All of the internal documents state Android 1.5 and even techs/reps with the phone have confirmed it many times over. How is the phone going to suddenly ship with Android 2.0 when HTC are being vague about a release timeframe?
Keep in mind the Motorola DROID build of Android 2.0 is developed specifically for the device. HTC still needs to develop their own build for their hardware.
any idea what the cost of the phone will be for existing customers with a contract renewal?
It will be the same Sally. Contract renewal is just as good as a new contract for them. =)
This is a great price point for a Google phone, I wonder how it compares to the HTC Hero?
Duker, I’m pretty sure it is the HTC Hero, just for verizon and under a different name.
This is the same phone as the sprint hero. Except this one I think looks better than the one for sprint although sprint has nfl mobile live and mobile tv. If only you could flash this phone and use it on sprint.
Looks are relative, the only thing I like about the Eris is the black color.
can you flash the droid Eris to work for Cricket Wireless?
You probably can but there’s no guarantee services other than talk and text will work