With the iPhone being so popular and all the speculation about the next gen iPhone 5 reaching fever pitch, it’s sometimes hard to keep in mind the other fine smartphones on the market or coming soon. One of these is the upcoming Motorola DROID Bionic from Verizon Wireless.

Even for fans of HTC devices (which many of us are), it’s easy to be impressed with Moto’s latest offering. With specs such as a dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP processor, 1GB of RAM a 4.3-inch qHD display, the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread OS and, of course, compatibility with Verizon’s lightning fast 4G LTE network, this device looks poised to dominate Verizon’s 4G offerings.

And now, Verizon Wireless on Wednesday finally made the Motorola DROID BIONIC official and has released pricing and availability details. The new Android smartphone launches Thursday, September 8th, for $299.99 with a 2 year contract.

Check out all the info in the official press release after the break.

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Some days news from the tech world is pretty amazing. Today is one of those days. Why? Read on.

Today, Google announced that it will be acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion. Yes, you read that right. Google is buying Moto.

According to reports, this move from Google will hopefully allow it to better compete with Apple’s iPhone, which owned two-thirds of profits among the world’s top-8 smartphone vendors in the second quarter. A Google-owned hardware arm would give the company complete control over the device, software and services, resulting in an end-to-end user experience that is completely under Google’s command.

Much like Apple does with the iPhone. And you know how that turned out. The deal will also give Google control of Motorola’s patents, of which there are quite a few.

“Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies,” Google CEO Larry Page said in a statement. “Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Very nice of him. Check out the full press release after the jump.

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What’s in a number? Well, if you’re Apple or Google, quite a bit apparently, According to the Nielsen research company, Android continued to move forward as a popular OS for smartphones showing significant gains and retaining its position os the top smartphone OS in the United States.

According to the survey, Android currently has 39% of the market. Apple’s iOS is number two with 28% and RIM is third at 20%. Windows Mobile and Windows Phone combined for 9%, while webOS and Palm OS combined for 2%. Nokia’s Symbian OS also held a 2% share in the June quarter.

Turning to hardware, Apple’s in the lead this time with 28% of the total U.S. market. HTC was second with 14% of Android smartphones and 6% of the Windows Phone/Windows Mobile smartphones, making it the top vendor in both categories and number two overall.

Samsung followed with 8% of the Android market and 2% of the Windows Phone/Windows Mobile market in the U.S. last quarter, while Motorola topped Samsung’s Android share with 11% to slide into the No. 2 spot among Android device manufacturers.

That’s a lot of numbers and we realize you probably don’t like numbers. So, here it is in a nutshell: Android is number one in OS and Apple is number one in hardware. Any questions?

The battle for Smartphone Supremacy seems to have come down to two companies: Apple and Google. Of course, Apple has the iPhone and iOS, a device and operating system many would say has revolutionized the way people communicate and interact on the go.

And Google has it’s Android operating system that is increasingly being adopted by more and more Smartphone manufacturers and has a growing fan base of its own. That’s pretty much the way it seems to be coming down and a new survey from ChangeWave seems to support that.

According to the survey, 48% of those planning to buy a new smartphone during the next 90 days plan on buying an iPhone. Also, 46% of those buying a smartphone in the next 90 days said that they would prefer an iOS-powered device, 32% want a smartphone running Android, and only 4% want a device running BlackBerry OS.

It’s not just potential new users, however. Current users are pretty excited for the iPhone too. 70% of those surveyed said that they were “very satisfied” with iOS. 50% said they were very satisfied with Android, 27% were happy with Microsoft’s Windows OS (which we assume means both Windows Mobile and Windows Phone), and 26% were pleased with RIM’s BlackBerry OS.

That may seem pretty definitive but it doesn’t really tell the full story. There’s people who will always dislike Apple and it’s “closed” architecture and people who like Google and Android for being more “open.” However, 48% versus 32% isn’t really a slam dunk for Apple and the iPhone. There’s still a lot of fight left in this battle.

Click through for the full ChangeWave press release.

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As it’s been quite some time since the iPhone 4 made its debut, naturally speculation on the next version of Apple’s flagship device is running rampant. Even the venerable Wall Street Journal, it seems, wants to get into the act.

The paper is reporting that Apple is preparing to release a redesigned iPhone 5 later this year. Citing anonymous sources in Apple’s supply chain, the Journal says Apple has placed component orders with key suppliers for fifth-generation iPhone parts.

In addition, the device is reported to feature an 8-megapixel camera and Qualcomm radios. Also, and this goes against earlier reports that the device will retain the same form factor as the iPhone 4, the new iPhone 5 will be thinner and lighter than the current model.

While a new case and being thinner and lighter are nice additions, I’m personally looking forward to an iPhone that works on Verizon’s 4G network. That would be pretty cool indeed.

The next iPhone is expected to begin shipping in September. So, you gonna upgrade when it does?

iPhone users take note, your device is not the one that most people want anymore. How do we know? The Nielsen Company on Tuesday released the findings of its latest smartphone survey, which asked people planning to purchase new smartphones which platform they intended to use.

When asked that question between June and September of last year, 33% said iOS, 26% said Android and 13% said BlackBerry. When a new group was asked the same question between January and March of 2011, Android moved ahead of Apple’s iOS platform to become the most wanted.

In this new survey, 31% planned to purchase an Android phone, 30% planned to buy an iPhone and 11% were considering BlackBerry devices. So there you have it, the iPhone is dead.

Oh wait, its only 1%. I guess iPhone is probably going to be okay — at least for now.

For those of you lamenting the lack of cool 4G smartphone offerings available for the Verizon Wireless network, this is the day you’ve been waiting for. Verizon Wireless’ first LTE handset, the HTC ThunderBolt, is now available on store shelves and online, ready to push the boundaries of wireless access.

If you plan on being one of the very first consumers to acquire the 4G handset, you have options as to where to pick it up. Verizon Wireless, Best Buy, and several others will be selling the handset for $250 with a two year contract.

However, if you don’t mind waiting for the device to be shipped to you, Wirefly will be selling it for $199.99. In addition, Amazon Wireless has it priced at $179.99. Plus, unless you live in certain areas of the country, no sales tax if you purchase at Amazon. Who doesn’t love that?

In case you’re not familiar with this 4G powerhouse, here’s a few stats to help get you excited:

• Powered by Android 2.2
• Latest version of the HTC Sense UI
• Support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail, YouTube and Android Market
• 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop
• 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
• 4.3” WVGA display
• 8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording

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One of the most important things when you own and use a smartphone is the data plan. Sure, having the phone to make calls is great (that is when you can make calls. I’m looking at you AT&T) but the real purpose of all that cool phone goodness is to do other things like check email, post on Facebook and Twitter and surf the web while in line at Trader Joe’s.

When the iPhone first hit AT&T, the company offered an unlimited data plan for it. That plan has changed over the years and now features tiered pricing with the word “unlimited” left for the level of frustration many users feel when trying to make a call or, in some cases, send a simple text message.

Fortunately it seems Verizon understands the data needs of smartphone users and will offer a $30 unlimited data plan for the iPhone 4. This was confirmed to The Wall Street Journal by the company’s CEO Lowell McAdam who also said that offering the iPhone with a capped data plan would create an unnecessary barrier for customers looking to switch from AT&T.

“I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot,” he said. Smart man. Verizon will launch the iPhone on February 10th. Will you be getting one?

Late yesterday Google released an update to its Gmail Android application for smartphones. The update brings with it several bug fixes, improvements, and feature additions.

The biggest improvements/changes include enhanced priority inbox support, an improved compose email feature, and in-line rely responses. With priority inbox support, users can now see importance markers in the main message list and rank messages right from their device. That is if you actually use priority inbox.

The new compose feature will allows users to switch between reply, reply all, and forward while in the compose screen as well as set the outgoing account on the fly if they have more than one Gmail account on their devices. In-line message replies work similarly to how they work in the traditional Gmail interface.

The new Gmail application, which carries the designation of version 2.3.2, is available in the Android Market now. So far the update seems to be working fine on our test HTC Incredible. We’ll let you know if something breaks.

As of late last night (Mine came in around 11PM) Verizon Wireless began rolling out a new minor software update for the HTC Incredible. This update is more of a minor update that includes bug fixes and a few new features.

Chief among these new features is Verizon’s V CAST Apps store. The new store will allow HTC Incredible users to download and install applications to their devices. This new service works similarly to the current Android Market but also allows users to pay for new apps via their monthly Verizon cell phone bill instead of using a credit card.

The update, which is delivered over the air, is an 18 MB file and brings the software to Android Version 2.2 (3.26.605.1/Baseband Version: 2.15.00.07.28). It should be pushed out to all users over the next few days.

For the complete list of big fixes and improvements, click through.

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I don’t think we’ll see the kind of lines normally associated with the launch of an iPhone, but if you’re a Microsoft and Windows 7 fan, today’s your day. Why? Well, in case you didn’t know, today is launch day for Microsoft’s new smartphone powered by Windows 7.

That’s right, Windows Phone 7 devices are now available for purchase in the U.S. The Redmond Giant (As we like to call them) already launched its new mobile OS last month in Europe and fans here in the US of A have had to wait patiently for the launch here. Now, the wait is over.

At the moment, you can get one of three smartphones powered by Windows 7 from two different carriers. The HTC Surround, Samsung Focus and HTC HD7 are good to go with the Dell Venue Pro is rumored to drop later today. The LG Quantum is also available for pre-order from AT&T starting today.

CDMA Windows Phone 7 devices on Sprint and Verizon are not expected until the first quarter of 2011. AT&T is investing heavily in the Windows Phone 7 launch, with touch screen displays providing information about the system and “experience tables” to showcase the Windows Phone 7 handsets. Also displayed are Xbox game console and a laptop with Windows 7 operating system.

Expect to pay $199.99 for any of these Windows Phones. Of course, you can probably find better deals elsewhere by doing a little searching.

So, anyone planning on lining up for a Windows Phone 7 today? If so, let us know how it goes.

Seems like there’s been a non-stop parade of hot new Android-powered phones releasing in 2010. We reported on the Droid Incredible back in April, the ginormous Droid X with its drool-worthy screen back in June, but check out what Motorola is about to release on Verizon customers now. The all-new Droid 2, an update on the Droid that started it all.

Unlike the Incredible and the X, the new Droid 2 has an improved flip-out keyboard, a must for texting and emailing enthusiasts. I have to say, as a Droid Incredible user, I long for a real keyboard every single time I have to pound out more than a few words on my virtual keyboard. The Droid X at least has a much larger screen and consequently a much larger virtual keyboard, but there just is no comparison to how efficient you can be with a real keyboard.

The specs are reminiscent of the original Droid, but updated in some key areas: Android 2.2 (AKA “Froyo”), 3.7″ touch-screen, 3G Mobile HotSpot capability, Flash Player 10.1, an enhanced 5MP-cam with image-stabilization, dual LED flash and DVD-quality video capture, 8GB of onboard memory and a 8GB microSD card and onboard DLNA media sharing.

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