The Short Names

Many are referring as this to Droid Day, the moment when Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) starts selling the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid, perhaps the most highly anticipated Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Android phone to date. So, did people turn out in droves to buy the shinny new phone? Is it better than the iPhone? What’s the difference between the Droid and the Droid Eris? And, what’s it all going to cost me? We have all those answers and more:

The lines: Verizon Wireless opened many of its stores early for the throngs of people expected to show up. Early on, that sounded like a smart move. Cnet reported that more than a hundred people were lined up at midnight (early Friday morning) in front of a store in midtown Manhattan. However, the momentum didn’t last. Engadget snapped a picture of one person in line in San Francisco. In Seattle, where Verizon Wireless experienced a line for the BlackBerry Storm when it launched, not a single person stood today. Still, sales seemed to be steady today, according to anecdotal evidence.

Droid Vs. Droid Eris: This may cause confusion, but late in the game Verizon decided to start selling both the Motorola Droid today, along with the HTC Droid Eris. So, what’s the difference? The Droid Eris, which sells as the HTC Hero elsewhere, lacks a physical keyboard, is cheaper and boosts a slightly older operating system, meaning it won’t come with free Google navigation. However, you must be warned that the Eris has a more polished, prettier user interface that HTC spent a long time developing—and we like it a lot. In contrast, the Droid looks like some of the earlier Android builds. If the Eris appeals to you, you may want to consider buying the HTC Hero with Sprint (NYSE: S), not the Eris from Verizon. Laptop Magazine breaks it down here: The HTC Eris may only cost $99 at Verizon, but it’s $651 more expensive than Sprint Hero because of the data plans and because Sprint includes a lot of software on the device for free (like navigation).

Is the Droid better than the iPhone?: As you may suspect this is a highly personal opinion that can easily be swayed by which device the person is currently using. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of reviews to point you to. The WSJ’s Walt Mossberg diplomatically concludes: “It’s the best super-smart phone Verizon offers, the best Motorola phone I’ve tested and the best hardware so far to run Android…Like the iPhone, the Droid is really a powerful hand-held computer that happens to make phone calls, and is a platform for numerous third-party programs, or apps.” TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington is less coy and pretty much tells everyone to run out and get it immediately: “It is as close as we’ve come to the Platonic ideal of a smartphone. Its very existence ensures that the next iPhone will be even better than it otherwise would have been.” If you are looking for more of a side-by-side comparison, MobileCrunch is the place to go and has a two part series that answers everything from ringer volume to photo quality to the browser. That’s here and here.

Ok, I’m sold. How much does it all cost?: See above for the Eris. As for the Motorola Droid, I’m afraid it’s not as straightforward. First, the phone: At the Verizon store, it will cost $200 after a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year contract. But Engadget is reporting that Sears has a better deal. It will be $150 and no mail-in rebate. Second, the plan: For $30 a month, you will get an ‘unlimited’ data plan capped at 5Gb, reports PC World. The sneaky part is that it’s not unlimited at all. Verizon has confirmed that if you’d like to use the phone as a modem and tether it to your PC, it will cost you an additional $30 a month—but that is also limited to 5Gb. Unfortunately, the fees don’t stop there. You’ll pay $45 for the basic data plan (rather than $30) if you want access to the Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Exchange email server. That means $75 a month for data, Exchange and tethering (with consumption capped at 10 Gb).

Ok, screw that I’m waiting for the iPhone on Verizon: But wait, no one really has a clue as to when Verizon Wireless might have an iPhone or some other Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) device. If rumor is enough for you, however, it could be as soon as the third quarter 2010. Quoting a report from Taiwan sources, AppleInsider reported today that the new “worldmode” iPhone will be compatible with Verizon’s CDMA2000 networks and UMTS 3G networks using a new hybrid chip produced by Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM). According to OTR Global’s sources, this one phone will work on most networks by third quarter next year. Of course, that could mean it’s going to Sprint.