Verizon Wireless has yet to jump on the Android train, but the carrier is determined to hop a ride in the near future. Today, Google and Verizon announced that they are working together to bring a “family of [Android] devices” to market in the near future. In fact, we should be seeing two new smartphones powered by Google’s mobile OS this year. We’re hoping one of those Android devices is going to be the Motorola Sholes/Tao that was missing at Motorola’s Android announcement last month.
There are apparently a handful of different manufacturers lining up to bring their Android wares to Verizon’s network. Some of them might even be working on an Android netbook. But, the most interestingly tidbit to come from Google’s partnership with Verizon is the expected arrival of Google Voice with Verizon’s first Android launch. In what we’re going to interpret as a jab at Apple, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed that Google Voice would be a go on Verizon, adding that “you are either open, or you are not.”
As for when we’re going to see the Motorola Sholes hitting market, we can’t say. Our money is on a pre-holiday launch.