Less than two weeks after promising to sell smartphones, netbooks and other devices based on Google’s Android mobile operating system, Verizon Wireless kicked off a television ad touting its Motorola Droid phone and shredding Apple’s iPhone in the process. Verizon Wireless will begin selling the Droid on Oct. 30, as far as anyone can tell. Boy Genius tested a Droid and said the device is blazingly fast, running Version 2.0 of Android. Jefferies Research said that such traction will lead to a boon in Google’s mobile applications, noting that Google’s location-based services such as Local Search, Google Maps, Search by Voice and Latitude should be readily monetizable over time.
– Google CEO Eric Schmidt said on the search engine company’s earnings call last week that Android was about to take off.
Time will tell on that score, but if it doesn’t happen it won’t be for lack of trying. Less than two weeks after promising to sell smartphones, netbooks and other devices based on…