Many Verizon Wireless locations opened early to sell customers the device reviewers are calling an "iPhone killer." More than a hundred people waited in the cold for Verizon's flaghip store in midtown Manhattan to open up at midnight, Eastern time so they could be among the first to get their hands on the latest smartphone.

The Droid is the first cell phone on the market to use Google's new Android 2.0 operating system.

Like Apple's iPhone, it comes with a touchscreen and web access.

Customers will also have access to thousands of downloadable apps through Google's Android Market.

But unlike the iPhone, the Droid comes with a slide-out keyboard.

Other features include turn-by-turn GPS navigation, a five-megapixel camera and a DVD-quality video recorder.

The Droid costs 200 dollars with a new two-year contract and requires a Verizon voice and data plan.

(Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)