Motorola DROID 3 now available from Verizon Wireless; $199.99 [updated]

By on Jul 7, 2011 at 8:20 AM
mobile July 7, 2011

Without as much as a peep from Verizon Wireless’ PR team, the nation’s top carrier on Thursday made the latest addition to its DROID line of smartphones available for purchase. Perhaps the silence is payback since Motorola announced the device last month in China before Verizon’s unveiling, which has historically preceded international versions of the phone. As we’ve known for quite some time, the Motorola DROID 3 features a dual-core 1GHz processor, a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels) touchscreen display, a full slide-out QWERTY keypad, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture support, 16GB of storage and global roaming support, all atop Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. The phone is available from Verizon Wireless immediately for $199.99 on contract, and you’ll have to choose one of the carrier’s new tiered data plans along with it if you’re a new customer.

UPDATE: VZW finally decided to make the DROID 3 — you know, its brand new flagship Android smartphone — official. The carrier’s full press release can now be found after the break. Of note, the phone is available immediately online but won’t be in stores until July 14th.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE NEXT GENERATION DROID DELIVERING POWER AND PERFORMANCE: THE DROID 3 BY MOTOROLA

Full Keyboard, No Compromises; DROID 3 by Motorola Available Online Today

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.  – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the new Android™-powered DROID 3 by Motorola, a global smartphone that delivers power for work and play without making compromises.

DROID 3 by Motorola is the world’s thinnest full QWERTY smartphone, and still delivers the power of a dual-core 1 GHz processor for fast multi-tasking.  Customers can take stunning photos with the 8-megapixel camera or capture the moment in 1080p HD video. Equipped with Android 2.3, the DROID 3 by Motorola features a brilliant 4-inch qHD display, a roomy 5-row QWERTY keyboard and 3G Mobile Hotspot capabilities, with the ability to connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.  DROID 3 by Motorola delivers the power needed to conquer the day whether customers are at home, work or somewhere in between.

Additional features:

·        Powered by Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread

·        Mirror mode allows you to view and share photos, videos and movies on a larger TV via HDMI output (requires HDMI cable)

·        Global ready, allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice and data service in more than 200 countries, including more than 125 with 3G speeds

·        Enterprise ready with advanced security policies, device and SD card encryption, complex password support, remote data wipe of device and SD card; document and presentation viewing and editing with Quickoffice®

·        Citrix® GoToMeeting® for Android, gives users the ability to attend online meetings while on-the-go, and Citrix Receiver® for Android, a universal software client that allows companies to deliver corporate apps, desktops and data to any corporate- or employee-owned device

·        ESP smart dock technology for a tailored experience based on whether DROID 3 is docked in home, office or car settings

·        Adobe® Flash® Player 10

·        Front-facing camera for still shots and video chat

·        Video playback in 1080p HD in mirror mode

Pricing and availability:

·        DROID 3 by Motorola is now available online at http://www.verizonwireless.com, and will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores by July 14 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

·        Customers that purchase a DROID 3 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package.  New Verizon Wireless customers will have the option of smartphone plans starting at $30 for 2GB of data. Current Verizon Wireless smartphone customers who are upgrading their smartphone can keep their current data plan.

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41 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    I do not understand why this phone is $200.

    • Anonymous

      Does $200 seem low or high?  If it seems low, it’s because it has no LTE.  If it seems high, yeah, it seems high to me too.

      • Anonymous

        No, it definitely seems high to me. I mean, the hardware specs on this phone are very nice… but the Thunderbolt can be had for $250. The DX2 can be had for $200. The DInc 2 can be had for $150.

        It seems like they’re charging a premium for the keyboard, which seems ridiculous on the face of it. If they had put LTE on this phone, there’s a real possibility that it would’ve been on my radar until I found out that they locked the bootloader. As is… fuck it. 

      • Anonymous

        HIGH? what the hell is wrong with folks? $199 is the base price for any new smartphone. The Thunderbolt isn’t a dual-core phone. This is more comparable to the DX2 which is a dual-core phone at the same price… also without LTE.

      • Anonymous

        @Good_Ole_Pinocchio:disqus I just think it would be better at a $150 price point, while you bring the D2Global down to $100 to clear it out of the warehouses.

        I mean, we know most companies don’t care about people who use hardware keyboards, so it would’ve been nice to get a bone of some kind.

      • Guest

        Why would anyone get this phone when the bionic is right around the corner?

      • Anonymous

        Some folks(not including myself) like keyboards.

      • Booboolala2000

        Because the bionic will be garbage. Phase two rushed to market after phase one epic failed?

  • http://profiles.google.com/jgmankos John Mankos

    No 4G….no thanks.  Pity

    • Whyme22

      And $30 for 2 gigs per month for a smarphone data plan as the CHEAPEST option for one of the slowest 3G networks? My iPhone for work with them in NYC crawls. Let the ripoff begin.

  • Chet Stovepiper

    this would be my phone if it had 4g 

  • Bringit

    Soon to be $29.

  • Rob Meyer

    Sadly, I dont think this phone is or deserves the title of a flagship phone. It doesnt carry enough of the newest tech to get flagship status. The bionic upon its release will be moto’s flagship. It is supposed to have the fastest dual core atm, 1gb ddr2 ram and LTE… trumps the D3 for handset superiority.

  • http://www.prjctmobile.com Chris MacDonald

    It’s kind of weird to see the original Droid line go from most talked about Android phone to hardly anyone cares.

    • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

      This x100000

    • Fredd0

       new razr?

      • http://www.prjctmobile.com Chris MacDonald

        Hah, wouldn’t it be great if Motorola released a Droid Razr?

      • http://www.prjctmobile.com Chris MacDonald

        Hah, wouldn’t it be great if Motorola released a Droid Razr?

  • Anonymous

    Why does Moto make Droids with keyboards?  Its not like someone would use an Android phone for work. 

    • Anonymous

      What are you even saying? #nonsense

      • Anonymous

        Greetings:

        Let me try to be a bit clearer #nooneusesandroidphonesintheirbusinessunlesstheyareselfemployed.

        Here is a ranking of phones suitable for use in a workplace larger than 2 people:  Any Android Phone < 80s and 90s era "candybar" phone < 90s era "bag" phone < modern feature phone without keyboard < modern feature phone with keyboard < iPhone < Blackberry. 

        HTH.

      • Anonymous

        Well, as long as you’re being a cordial troll, let me cordially remind you that this isn’t Twitter. Hashtags are pointless.

        Your error is assuming that the only reason to want a hardware keyboard is because the phone is for pure productivity. Some of us just type faster on a real keyboard than we do on a virtual one, no matter how swanky your predictive algorithms.

      • Anonymous

        Greetings @Sqube:disqus

        I will use #hashtags as often as I please, especially when someone uses a #hastag to #trytobecute and #replytosomethingIsaidthatistruebutwithwhichtheydisagree.

        Please re-read my original post.  I think you’ll find the error you made in your response.  If you can’t find it, I’ll be happy to explain further. 
        HTH.

      • Anonymous

        Lmao you suck at trolling.. What are you good at? You’re name should be TheCordialIdiotWhoRambles

    • Cableneuhaus

      Some folks — like me, for instance — like to have a physical keyboard as an option, especially for typing lengthy messages.  Right now, I would not buy a smartphone that did not include a hard keyboard.  It’s a *must.*  

      • Anonymous

        And other folks, like me for instance, want the ability to send and receive e-mails immediately, have a battery that lasts longer than 2 hours, and not have to buy a line of phones for work that have the highest hardware failure rate in the industry.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AQ5HWJRNNOGYAM7ZPLXVC4EJ5I Nadine Barrett

    I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, LiveCent.com

  • Cornbread

    Could Android devices possibly be any more boring? Holy crap. They are all the same poor battery life garbage. Android email is an absolute abomination. Motorola makes crap. And uninteresting expensive crap at that. People love to bash Apple and Blackberry here, I would rather pay for either of them then use an Android device and service for free. I know the techies love it and that’s great, but are there any non techies, maybe a sales guy or something that can tell me what I’m obviously missing that makes Android terrific/preferable.

    • Booboolala2000

      Don’t knock the email. Gmail and exchange work fine for me.

  • the Goat

    Can we get answers for some important questions: Is the bootloader locked?  What bloatware is factory installed?

    • Anonymous

      MotoBLUR is in there, and no comment about the bootloader. When it comes to Motorola, it’s best to assume that it’s been done all wrong until proven otherwise.

  • Adam Bullock

    Holy crickets, that looks just like the original Droid I owned for a few months.

  • fillyo

    WTF is everyone expecting..the specs are current, only disappointing factor is no 4g.  God, the iPhone4 looks so different from the other 2, its square with 1 button.  News flash – all phones are relatively square and generally shaped the same, not sure what type of revolutionary changes people are looking for.

  • Booboolala2000

    Motorola gets no more money from me until they do right by my XOOM LTE upgrade.

  • Barry J Egan

    i like how usage based pricing (their positive spin term) doesn’t account for benefitting low usage customers. your propaganda shoots itself in the foot. if it’s usage based why does it cost 30 fucking dollars to someone who doesn’t use a single fucking megabyte?

  • Paul Feneht

    No NFC either…meh

  • hemdroid

    First and foremost, this is a phone.  I live in an area on another side of a hill and a cell signal can be difficult to maintain.  I have owned Moto, Samsung, and LG phones and have found that any Moto phone I have owned has had the best reception.  LG will give me no service, Samsung will pull in a signal every once in a while, but Moto will rarely lose that signal.  I have a Fascinate right now and it has no signal.  I have my original Droid right next to it and it has one bar.  I’ll take a Motorola phone any day and i’m waiting to dump this POS Fascinate for a Bionic.

  • wirecup

    Still waiting for full 5-row keyboard with a larger display (4.7″-5.5″)  

  • hemdroid

    People complaining that this phone is $199.99.  I just tried an upgrade to see if my unlimited data stayed, and it does.  The phone also came up priced at $149.99

    • Sleestak

      $149.99 includes an upgrade rebate, I would guess.

  • http://twitter.com/vodkaanddishes vodka and dishes

    Super excited about this phone – just placed my order with Verizon. I have been waiting for it to be released. I own by own business and use my phone for email a lot. Current phone is a Droid as well and I personally LOVE the fact that it has the slide out keyboard. I can type faster & I don’t have to rely on the touch screen. No slide out keyboard has kept me away from purchasing the iphone. I guess I’m just old fashioned & like to use regular buttons :)

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