Locking Horns With Apple

Verizon Wireless ran a television ad dissing the iPhone over its lack of a physical keyboard, its inability to multitask, and its camera's inability to capture images in dark conditions. The ad also slammed the iPhone for being a closed platform. "Everything iDon't, Droid Does," the ad stated.

Verizon Wireless unveiled a new Web site that leads with similar criticisms of the iPhone.

Verizon Wireless's main site also includes a dig against Apple, with the slogan "Want 5 times more 3G coverage than AT&T There's a Map for that." This echoes ads for the iTunes App Store, which use the catchphrase "There's an app for that."

While the ads may be clever, that doesn't mean Verizon and Google will make any headway against the iPhone. "iPhone killers always look good on paper," the Yankee Group's Howe said. "We've got to see the real prices, plans and performance before we can judge how much of a threat the Droid is."

Motorola and Verizon have their work cut out for them if they want to take on the iPhone.

"So Verizon and Motorola, two companies that have lagged behind in the smartphone area, suddenly release a device and say it will change the world? I think it will be difficult in such a competitive environment," In-Stat's Nogee said.

"Consumers will have to [decide] whether they want a new and somewhat unknown phone platform on a good network or a known, good iPhone experience on an OK network," Howe pointed out. "Apple has a much higher brand value and consumer cache than Motorola at present, and that's going to affect consumer choices."