Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel continue device parade

Verizon Wireless (VZ) and Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) shed some launch light on a pair of handsets that both expect to begin offering over the coming days and weeks.
Verizon Wireless said it will begin offering the HTC Corp. Droid Incredible 2 on April 28 for $200 with a two-year contract. The device is the follow up to the original Droid Incredible that launched just about one year ago.
The new model sports a 4-inch touchscreen, 1 GHz Qualcomm Inc. Snapdragon processor, 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3-megapixel on the front, the ability to capture 720p video, support for international roaming and sports Google Inc.’s Android 2.2 operating system.
The original Incredible device included a 3.7-inch touchscreen, the same 1 GHz processor and 8-megapixel camera on the back, but lacked a front-facing camera or international support. That device also shipped with Android 2.1, which was later offered an update to the 2.2 version.
The Incredible 2 will join a trio of Droid-branded devices currently offered by Verizon Wireless, including the Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. Droid Pro, Droid X and Droid 2 Global.
In addition to the Droid Incredible 2, Verizon Wireless also said it would begin offering Casio Corp.’s G’zOne Commando ruggedized smartphone on April 28. The device meets military standards 810G for immersion, rain, shock and dust resistant, vibration, salt fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude, low and high temperature storage. No word on meeting standards for teenagers.
The smartphone includes a 5-megapixel camera, encryption for corporate e-mail, Wi-Fi connectivity with support for Verizon Wireless’ mobile hotspot service and runs Android 2.2. The Casio device also includes eight separate modes that include activity specific functionality, including “Earth Compass,” “Walking Counter,” “Adventure Training,” “Trip Memory,” “Tides,” “Thermometer,” “Sun/Moon” and “Star Gazer.”
The G’zOne Commando is set to retail for $200 with a two-year contract.
Casio has a history of providing ruggedized devices to Verizon Wireless under the G’zOne brand.
Verizon Wireless announced last week that it would begin offering the LTE-enabled Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Droid Charge beginning April 28 for $300 with a two-year contract.
While April 28 is a coming out day for Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel said it would begin offering the Samsung Nexus S 4G device beginning May 8. The carrier originally announced plans to carry the device last month.
The smartphone includes support for the carrier’s 3G and WiMAX-based offering as well as sports the latest version of the Android OS, 2.3.
Additional features include a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, 5-megapixel rear-facing and VGA front-facing camera, 4-inch touchscreen, support for near field communications technology and 16 gigabytes of embedded memory. The device is set to retail for $200 with a two-year contract.