Verizon, Motorola unveil the Droid | Signal Strength - CNET News: "NEW YORK--Verizon Wireless customers will soon be able to get their hands on the much anticipated Google Android phone called the Droid."

I have to say, I'm impressed by the features. The Droid is almost compelling enough to pull me away from AT&T and the promise that (eventually) my wife will let me buy an iPhone (she already has hers ;) ).

I say almost because, while the software side of the Droid (Google Android 2.0) shows promise as a formidable competitor to the iPhone OS (some might call it "Mac OS X mobile edition"), it still lacks the industrial design elegance and comprehensive hardware/software integration of the iPhone. I worry about the hardiness and longevity of devices with so many mechanical elements (full qwerty keyboard, slide out screen). The iPhone has only two hardware switches, no other moving parts, and so not much that's subject to wear.

Still, the Droid has some unique features (the "car-friendly UI" and turn-by-turn directions), and the fact that it's on the Verizon network with comprehensive 3G coverage nationwide makes it an attractive alternative for anyone who needs a handheld computer that overcomes some of the limitations of the iPhone on AT&T.

The Droid is one more clear indicator that the smartphone market will continue to diversify, heating up competition between carriers as well as between device makers. BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian/Nokia, and now Android, will continue to push the envelope in handheld network computing and communications.

I can't wait for Christmas to see if Santa leaves one of these gems for me!