Verizon announces the Droid Pro and Citrus

Verizon just surprised everyone by announcing a new Android device, the Droid Pro. If you recall, the Droid Pro is a device that has been rumored for quite some time. But the device announced today is nothing like the rumors suggested, and isn't even a device we've seen rumored before. Verizon somehow managed to keep word of this device completely under wraps until today.

As you can see, the Droid Pro is made by Motorola and features a QWERTY keyboard beneath the screen, much like the Motorola Charm. But the Droid Pro differs in that it has a vertical screen, instead of the Charm's smaller, horizontal screen. This makes it the second Android phone to feature a front-facing, non-slider QWERTY.



The Droid Pro is a world phone that features a 3.1" screen, 5MP camera, and a 1GHz processor. However, it's worth noting the "With Google" branding in the picture, suggesting that this device will not feature Bing. It is scheduled to be released before the holidays, but no exact release date was given. Check out Engadget's hands-on photos to get a closer look.

In addition to the Droid Pro, Verizon also announced the Motorola Citrus. Again, few details are given, but the Citrus will feature the same Backtrack trackpad as other Motorola phones, and sports a 3" screen. Verizon suggests that the Citrus "delivers an affordable, entry-level, customizable smartphone experience in a compact design." This device may look familiar, as it appears to be the same device we covered in the latest rumor recap, the Ciena. The Citrus will also be available before the holidays.

The Droid Pro looks like a really cool phone. As a former BlackBerry user, I definitely appreciate the keyboard being right there, easily accessible, with no slider-motion necessary. It looks like it will really appeal to existing BlackBerry users looking to switch to Android. If I were a Verizon subscriber, this device would definitely pique my interest. The Citrus on the other hand, not so much. If it turns out to have the specs listed in the rumors, it is set to be one of the worst Android phones in existence.

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I'm just waiting for Verizon to announce that the Droid Pro is still going to be loaded with Bing, even though it says "With Google." That would make me really mad. Otherwise, it looks pretty cool. I like that there are so many phones being released lately with physical keyboards--it's a nice change of pace. I think this phone will probably be pretty popular, especially since it's following in the footsteps of an already very successful line of phones for Verizon.