Verizon's Android Phone To Arrive Within A Few WeeksVerizon's Android Phone To Arrive Within A Few Weeks

Anyone disappointed that Motorola only announced one Android handset last week and not two need not fret for too long. Motorola will announce its second Android-based device within a few weeks, and you'd better believe that Verizon Wireless will be the one to sell it.Last week at GigaOm's Mobilize Conference, Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha unveiled the company's first Android handset, the CLIQ. The CLIQ, which has a full touch screen, QWERTY keyboard, and the new MotoBlur user interface, is due to arrive "before the holidays." T-Mobile will be the network operator that sells it.

At the same press conference, Jha commented that Motorola was set to unveil its second Android handset "within weeks." This phone is widely believed to be for Verizon Wireless.

I was told by a Motorola employee that Motorola's second Android device is "ready to go", but the company was waiting on "Big Red" to get its act together.

I think it's pretty easy to put two and two together here. Motorola originally planned to announce both of its Android phones at the Mobilize event, but changed that at the last moment. Why is not clear. Perhaps it is because T-Mobile CTO Cole Brodman was presenting at the Mobilize conference. Perhaps Verizon needs a couple more weeks of sales during the third quarter to clear current inventory levels.

Whatever the reason for its failed appearance at the Mobilize event, Motorola's second Android phone is headed to Verizon, and soon.

Consensus among my peers in the mobile industry is that the device will be announced between October 1 and October 6. It should be noted that October 7-9 is when the CTIA Wireless trade show is being held. With at least one major press conference already scheduled during the CTIA event by Motorola's competitor Samsung, I'd say it's fair to believe that Motorola will want to get its phone out in the media spotlight before Samsung grabs the attention.

We're watching you, Motorola and Verizon Wireless.