DailyTech - Motorola Droid 3 Avaialble at Verizon Wireless for Pre-Order

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Gadgets Motorola Droid 3 Avaialble at Verizon Wireless for Pre-Order
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - July 7, 2011 12:24 PM

18 comment(s) - last by VinnyRandy.. on Jul 9 at 8:25 AM

Motorola Droid 3 (Source: Motorola)

Droid 3 is the thinnest QWERTY keyboard phone around

Verizon Wireless has the latest smartphone in the Droid range up for pre-order. The device is called the Motorola Droid 3 and it is billed as the world's thinnest QWERTY keyboard smartphone. Thankfully, the Droid 3 runs the latest version of Google’s smartphone operating system, Android 2.3.

The Droid 3 is also a global capable smartphone allowing the user to make called and access 3G data networks in over 200 countries around the world. The smartphone has a 4-inch qHD resolution screen (960 x 540) and a QWERTY keyboard slides out and has five rows of keys.

The phone will operate on 800/1900 EVDO rev A networks and GSM networks. The smartphone measures in at 2.5-inches W x 4.9-inches H x 0.5-inches D and weighs 5.9 ounces. The Droid 3 uses a 1540 mAh Li-Ion battery that promises 550 minutes in use and up to 300 hours on standby.

Motorola gives the Droid 3 16GB of internal storage and it uses a dual-core 1GHz processor. The smartphone also has Bluetooth onboard and supports Skype Mobile and has aGPS. The rear camera on the device is an 8-megapixel camera and has autofocus. The smartphone has a front facing camera as well. It can also shoot HD resolution video out to your TV or other screen via HDMI output.

The phone also has Wi-Fi and supports encryption and enterprise security for use in the business world. Naturally, users can turn the Droid 3 into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The phone is up for pre-order on Verizon now for $199.99 with a new contract and will hit stores on July 14.

Those that purchase the Droid 3 without transferring an existing unlimited data plan will be subject to Verizon’s new metered plans for smartphones.

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RAM

By lukarak on 7/7/2011 1:07:46 PM , Rating: 2

Would be nice if you wrote how much RAM the Droid 3 has. It's one of the most important features. I know it's easy to find the info, but if you list all of the specs, this shouldn't be missing.

RE: RAM

By Brandon Hill

(blog) on 7/7/2011 1:17:43 PM , Rating: 2

Verizon's product page and press release make no mention of RAM size.

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RE: RAM

By adiposity on 7/7/2011 2:15:47 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Verizon's product page and press release make no mention of RAM size.

I asked a Verizon rep directly and they said 512MB. I asked why they didn't list it on the specs, and they said, "I just don't know!"

My guess is they aren't proud of it and choose not to advertise it.

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RE: RAM

By Souka on 7/8/2011 2:09:27 AM , Rating: 2

I'd bet a $1 it's 768mb

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RE: RAM

By haxxorboi on 7/8/2011 12:55:01 PM , Rating: 2

It's 512MB. It's been confirmed by multiple sources.
http://developer.motorola.com/products/droid-3-xt8...

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RE: RAM

By Myrandex on 7/7/2011 1:38:01 PM , Rating: 1

Hopefully there is a global edition of this and Verizon doesn't lock the SIM card slot like they did on the Droid 2 Global. I would have bought the phone out right from them, but Verizon was up to their $hit with locking features out of phones...another reason I wouldn't support them on my personal phone.

Jason

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RE: RAM

By Sazabi19 on 7/7/2011 2:37:50 PM , Rating: 2

The phone is global capable, do they need a global edition?

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RE: RAM

By Lifted on 7/7/2011 3:44:59 PM , Rating: 2

Verizon "locks" all of their global phones - lock in the sense that they can only use Vodafone SIMs.

Not sure what the issue is anyway since it's not difficult to find a GSM capable Android phone, and the Droid 3 is not such a great phone that one would complain that they can't find a similar GSM model.

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RE: RAM

By Omega215D on 7/7/2011 5:10:31 PM , Rating: 2

You can request that it unlocked. The requirements are: in good standing credit, and been a customer for a certain time period.

The Droid 3 has a good hardware keyboard that isn't available on many Android phones so it does have a purpose.

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RE: RAM

By Johnmcl7 on 7/7/2011 5:30:20 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Not sure what the issue is anyway since it's not difficult to find a GSM capable Android phone, and the Droid 3 is not such a great phone that one would complain that they can't find a similar GSM model.

I'm in the UK and interested in one of these as it's the only qwerty Android smartphone with current hardware. HTC's Desire Z is a single core Snapdragon and there's still no sign of their Doubleshot slider and while Samsung seem keen on Android and had a few qwerty sliders previously, they don't have any with dual A9's.

My N900 is starting to show its age particularly as Nokia have abandoned it but I don't want to lose the keyboard as the Gingerbread keyboard I use on the Tab is incredibly frustrating.

John

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No LTE = Waste of time

By Lord 666 on 7/7/2011 3:13:41 PM , Rating: 3

VZW is really dropping the ball with their LTE based phones. Slow for the code releases and even worse with their bug fixes. This is making my BB Bold look better every day.

RE: No LTE = Waste of time

By Saldrin on 7/7/2011 3:52:06 PM , Rating: 2

And the D3 is shipping with a locked bootloader.

Seriously bad load out of phones. I still have the original droid, my contract has been up for a year and a half now, there hasn't been a phone worth getting. I'm hoping the bionic will finally be a keeper.

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RE: No LTE = Waste of time

By phorensic on 7/7/2011 4:24:08 PM , Rating: 2

I agree, I have the OG Droid and there isn't a nice 4G LTE phone that I want to upgrade to.

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RE: No LTE = Waste of time

By haxxorboi on 7/8/2011 12:59:33 PM , Rating: 2

Motorola *supposedly* will be unlocking their product catalog late-2011, though I won't hold my breath. I've got a D3 and I'll give devs a few months to find a workaround for rooting and then hope someone finds a good way to unlock the bootloader.

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