Today, Verizon Wireless and Google announced a new partnership that promises to “offer consumers an array of products that combine the speed of the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network with the flexibility of the Android mobile platform.”
“The Android platform allows Verizon Wireless customers to experience faster and easier access to the web from any location,” said Eric Schmidt, chairman and chief executive officer for Google. “Through this partnership, we hope to deliver greater innovation in the mobile space to consumers across the U.S.”
By the end of the year, Verizon will launch two Android-powered phones. These could the rumoured Motorola Sholes and the HTC Hero (which appears to be the device shown off by Schmidt in the press picture). The two companies also promised that the two companies will cooperate on new devices and services as part of their new partnership.
The announcement makes Verizon the third U.S. carrier to offer Android-powered phones after T-Mobile and Sprint.