Motorola Commits To Android, Verizon [CEO Sanjay Jha Says To Expect More Droid Phones Coming To Verizon From Motorola]

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Motorola had been struggling a bit, but came back strong last their with the Motorola Droid, a decent Android phone that probably started the string of high-quality Android phones that we’re seeing now (Nexus One, Droid Incredible, HTC EVO 4G). Despite success with the Droid, Motorola is still losing $22 per handset. To save themselves, Motorola is putting all their chips in on Android and Verizon

Motorola invented the modern mobile phone and for a long time competed neck and neck with Nokia in the featurephone market, but like Nokia, they’ve had trouble adapting to the smartphone industry. According to analysts that the Wall Street Journal spoke to, Motorola needs to replicate the success they had with the Motorola Droid if they can fully turn the company around.

Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha confirmed today in an investor conference call that Motorola was still contracted with Verizon to continue producing high-quality Android phones, marketed under the “Droid” brand for Big Red . Two are said to be coming this July. We know one is probably the Motorola Droid Shadow. The other is a bit of a mystery, it could be an entry-level Android phone.

Verizon licenses the name “Droid” from George Lucas (who had it trademarked for Star Wars). I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, but Verizon is attempting to use “Droid” as a recognizable brand to compete with the iconic iPhone, hence why several phones from different manufacturers across the Verizon lineup are named Droid.

The first Motorola Droid did very well for Verizon. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said that the Droid was the fastest selling smartphone in Verizon history (although he did say that the Droid Incredible, made by HTC, would have broken that issue if they were constrained by poor supply).

Do you think Motorola is wise to bet on Android?