HTC Droid Incredible officially official for Verizon, April 29 for $200 (updated with a live shot!)

Though some information leaked out of Verizon's pipes yesterday, HTC just got really real with the Droid Incredible at the 99% Conference in New York today. Specs are pretty much what we expected: Android 2.1 with Sense, an 8 megapixel cam, 1GHz Snapdragon (not the underclocked core we'd heard rumored before, thankfully), WiFi, and a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display. Basically, this unit is a Sense-ified HTC Nexus One with an up-spec'd camera and a penchant for Verizon's airwaves -- and for a whole lotta Android users, that's exactly what the doctor ordered. It hits on April 29 for $199.99 on contract after a $100 mail-in rebate -- but in the mean time, you'll be able to pre-order starting on the 19th. Full PR after the break.

Update: We've also got a live shot of the device after the break. Thanks, Bryan!

Update 2: Verizon's own Incredible site is now live -- have fun over there! Thanks, Artem!

Update 3: We've confirmed that the phone will be up for pre-sale at Best Buy starting on the 18th, and per usual, this route will ensure you get the handset for $199.99 sans any mail-in rebate hassles.

Show full PR text

IT'S A DROID, IT'S INCREDIBLE, IT'S ON THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST RELIABLE 3G NETWORK

DROID Incredible™ by HTC Combines Power of Android™, Usability of HTC Sense™, Exclusively from Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEW YORK – Verizon Wireless today announced DROID Incredible by HTC, the newest Android device on the nation's most reliable wireless 3G network, will be available beginning April 29.
Featuring a "topographic" design that demonstrates the powerful engineering just beneath the surface, DROID Incredible by HTC is designed with craftsmanship and precision while making it easier than ever to stay connected.
DROID Incredible by HTC features the newest version of the HTC Sense experience, a seven-panel home screen with a wide selection of interactive widgets so the most important content is immediately available at a touch. Customers will enjoy seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync®, quick and easy access to Flickr for sharing and viewing pictures, video, and Android Market™ with more than 30,000 Google applications. DROID Incredible by HTC is the first Verizon Wireless phone that takes advantage of Qualcomm's 1GHz superfast Snapdragon processor, and it's the first available phone from Verizon Wireless to include an 8 megapixel camera.
Shortly after the phone becomes available, customers will be able to enjoy two of the latest exclusive apps from Verizon Wireless – NFL Mobile and Skype mobile™.
Additional Key features:
Android 2.1 with HTC Sense experience
1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor for maximum responsiveness
Friend Stream for unified Flickr, Facebook and Twitter updates
"Leap" view for quick access to all seven home screen panels
8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash for crisp, detailed images
Razor-sharp 3.7 inch WVGA (480x800) AMOLED capacitive touch display
Optical joystick for smooth navigation
Dedicated, touch-sensitive Home, Menu, Back and Search keys
Proximity sensor, light sensor and digital compass
Integrated GPS
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
3.5 mm headset jack

Price and availability:
DROID Incredible will be available for pre-order online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning on April 19 and it will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on April 29. Pricing will be $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
DROID Incredible customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access. Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

# # #

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of DROID Incredible by HTC in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

[iroq d mullet Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:29PM]

:O

[iroq d mullet Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:31PM]

@iroq d mullet
!

[MRCUR Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:40PM]

@iroq d mullet - Your avatar is horrendous.

[Almo Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:44PM]

So... Incredible or EVO 4G?

[Jawajohn Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:47PM]

@Almo
My thoughts exactly. Looks like both phones are going to be huge hits. I'm very interested in the prospect of 4G though. But I've gotten mixed reviews about Sprints signal where I live.

[scioncas Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:52PM]

@Almo sprint or verizon? big amoled or huge wvga?

[tartan1515 Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:10PM]

@scioncas
the $199 price point is amazing. possibly a middle finger gesture to sprint & the EVO which will surely be higher?

[EagleyeSmith Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:15PM]

@Almo
I seriously would go w/ the EVO 4G.

[Luke Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:19PM]

@Almo

Get Incredible now, and a better LTE phone on you next contract when that network is up and running smoothly. But of course, that'll be the future, when two-year contracts are a thing of the past.

[Ysleiro Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:20PM]

@iroq d mullet RELEASE THE KRAKEN !!!

[scorpeo Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:26PM]

@Almo, no comparison, the EVO is 4G, HD 720p, larger screen, front facing camera, video out. The EVO will have Android 2.5 as well. Not to mention the cheaper service rates on Sprint.

[jmcburna Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:28PM]

@scorpeo Thank you^^

[jerbear Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:35PM]

@Almo EVO unless you are in one of the very few areas that has Verizon and not Sprint coverage. Cheaper plans, better phone.

[TareG Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:46PM]

@Almo
is there even a comparison? EVO 4G is the best phone of the year (so far)...

I have to say though, I don't like the Incredible's Samsung Instinct dimensions and bezel....

[KennyR Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:59PM]

@scorpeo
Android 2.5? Cheaper rates? These questions have not been officially answered.

[Slvrgun Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:04PM]

@Almo Sprints plans are cheaper + they'll have even more 4g coverage by the end of the year.

[scorpeo Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:07PM]

@KennyR, during Engadgets live broadcast from CTIA, Hesse confirmed that customers will not pay additional for 4G. Only when the device is used as a Hotspot will there be an additional charge, $10-$20 a month. During CTIA Sprint also said, there will be surprises when the EVO is launched, Sprint insiders (who have been correct thus far) have said testing is being done with Android 2.5.

[iroydude Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:17PM]

@MRCUR this is INCREDIBLE!

[MilitantRabbit Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:28PM]

@scorpeo Actually, EVO 4g will have 2.1, and its battery will probably last 1 hour with everything on.

[scorpeo Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:59PM]

@MilitantRabbit, negative, Android 2.5, enough elements from 2.5 (Froyo) were added to 2.1, they will officially call it 2.5. Reasoning, 2.1 alone could not be optimized for 4G. Some of Androids apps had to be re-optimized for 4G as well. The only battery issue there is, is when the Hotspot feature is being used.

[Shemploo Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:06PM]

@KennyR Don't forget the Incredible is AMOLED, high viewing angles and daylight readability. EVO 4G TFT, daylight readability and viewing angles are pretty bad.

[keniaronia Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:10PM]

@MRCUR This phone cammibalize N1 due to simply having HTC Sense and the full "Google Experience". Plus 8GB internal, 8MP cam. Why bother with an N1 if you're a VZW customer now?
Actually the leaked impression posted before was actually incredible. View. http://bit.ly/incredible-droid-htc-reactions

[andysexton Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:15PM]

@tartan1515 The phone may be cheaper, but the plan over 2 years will cost over $1000 more at Verizon. I checked.

[acp Posted Apr 15th 2010 3:26PM]

@Almo
I think this depends on choice of carrier, if Sprint and Verizon offered both, I think the Evo would be the easy decision.

[mbg19 Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:33PM]

@Ysleiro just commenting because you have the dominican flag =D

[senormatt Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:41PM]

@Shemploo

AMOLED on Incredible = can't see in daylight

LCD on Evo = can see in daylight

learn your technology better

[red97vette Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:58PM]

@scorpeo you really think that 4G data rates are going to be the same as 3G?

[1ofdakoolkidz Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:59PM]

@senormatt Fail, maybe you need to learn technology yourself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIF6KkCUT04

[shloopa Posted Apr 15th 2010 5:13PM]

@red97vette yes according to the Verizon official i spoke to last week,...

[StraightUp Posted Apr 15th 2010 5:17PM]

@Almo
How can anyone afford verizon?

Their cheapest family plan w/ exchange+web.
Plan:
99.99 - Nationwide Talk & Text Family SharePlan® 700
44.99 - Phone1 Corp Email (i.e. exchange) + web
44.99 - Phone2 Corp Email (i.e. exchange) + web
--------
189.97
OR
129.99 for 1500 minute @ sprint
OR
139.99 for 750 minutes @ T-Mo - EM plan
OR
109.99 for 750 minutes @ T-Mo - EMPlus plan

[Spaceshipped Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:19PM]

@Almo Doesn't this phone have that freakishly disgusting back design? I'm not feeling the EVO's design either, personally I'd take a Nexus One(preferably in black, *salivates*), unresponsive soft buttons and all.

[theboywithnofairy Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:28PM]

@senormatt the evo is a TFT, not lcd...and even if it was an lcd and you could see it in daylight its not like you can't see AMOLED in daylight, its perfect in the sun

[maati Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:45PM]

@senormatt

That's nonsense. AMOLED is perfectly visible in daylight.

[scorpeo Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:45PM]

@red97vette, did you not read my comments above, in reference to Engadgets live Broadcast from CTIA? In several videos of the EVO, other Sprint officials have said the same thing. Sprints current 4G data cards work on Sprints 3G data plans, no additional cost. 4G is/will be unlimited as well.

[PeezyFaSho Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:16PM]

@Almo EVO 4G easy. HD and front facing camera. This device unveiling isn't really even a big deal! EVO 4G crushes all phones. Even the soon to be released, battery-enclosed, no flash playing IPhone HD! FAIL!

[Metayoshi Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:28PM]

@Almo
I'm kinda stuck on Sprint's network, but that's not necessarily a bad thing due to the EVO 4G... So I would go with the EVO 4G.

I would probably drop money on the Droid Incredible if i was on Verizon.

[jrei14mecom Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:39PM]

@MRCUR

EVOOOO screen looks soo small on here comapred to it haha

[Zaggs Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:28PM]

@StraightUp Except neither the tmobile nor Sprint plans include exchange push like the Verizon plan you're quoting. With Spring your corporate email either has to be redirected from your desktop or use web access. Tmobile makes no mention of exchange email either.

[scorpeo Posted Apr 15th 2010 10:11PM]

@Zaggs, what the heck are you talking about, I have full MS Exchange with my Palm Pre.

[Merton Posted Apr 16th 2010 10:39AM]

@StraightUp The answer to your question is simple.

People can afford Verizon because they get an education and get a good job.

I use my phone for important calls. My cell phone number is the only number I have. I need my phone to be reliable. Where I live, my friend, who lives literally across the street (I can walk to his house in 15 seconds) does not get service on his iPhone on AT&T in my living room, kitchen, or dining room, but does get service in my computer room and living room. I get full signal with Verizon everywhere throughout my house.

Furthermore, where I work, we started switching to Sprint, and the amount of complaints grows every day. So many people are complaining about dropped calls or lack of a signal to make important business calls.

Are these carriers good in other areas of the world? I am sure they are. But that doesn't change the fact that their coverage sucks where I live, and that I need a reliable connection to send/receive calls.

Plus, I haven't found a single area where I don't get Verizon 3g.

[ScifiSurfer Posted Apr 16th 2010 12:08PM]

@Merton Your comments are well received.

As a former Sony employee, I can tell you Sony used to be (maybe still is for all I know) a major corporate customer of Sprint, and they had to have Sprint install a booster system throughout our building just so you could get reception. Now, once they did that, reception was freakin' amazing, but nevertheless this had to be done in an area where Sprint generally has what's generally considered for them to be "good" coverage.

I'm a Sprint customer for reasons I won't go into, but let's just say I am paying serious attention to what's going on at the other carriers because I want to keep my options open.

[m4ryv Posted Apr 16th 2010 1:52PM]

@StraightUp Uhhh....my plan: 4 lines, 2 of those are smartphones and my bill is 214.87, just opened it. So, for those of you being swayed from Verizon, ask around for the love of god.

[jawman Posted Apr 16th 2010 2:18PM]

@1ofdakoolkidz
then why has everyone on engadget, including editors themselves as well as the public members, have said that AMOLED is terrible in sunlight. example = nexus one.
i'm still very confused on this argument, one video/review says one thing while another says different, i ask people the difference and i get differing opinions on the argument. i don't think anyone knows.

[Yotendoten Posted Apr 16th 2010 3:05PM]

@StraightUp

Exchange Sync on Android works on the +$29.99 Data Plan. You don't need the $44.99 one and you also conveniently chose to compare Verizons Family plan with Texting to the T-Mobile's Family Plans without texting... so I think your Numbers are off a bit...

$159.98 = $99.99 + $29.99 Data + $29.99 Data for 2 Smartphones on Verizon with unlimited Texting.

$139.99 = $59.99 + $30 Data + $30 Data + $20 Texting on T-Mobile's Even More Plan...

$139.99 = $109.99 + $25 Second Smart Phone on T-Mobile's Even More Plus - Talk Text and Web plan

I will gladly, and do, pay an extra $20/mo for Verizon's Superior 3G Coverage Area. Sprint is the clear victor in the Price fight but their coverage is horrific here.

[Complex Pants Posted Apr 16th 2010 4:43PM]

@jawman

AMOLED doesn't have a back light, which makes it blacks very nice. It basically has auto-luminescence. However, if you shine a brighter light source on it, you can't actually see the light coming from the screen, the same is true of any display. TFT works better in the sun because it has a brighter back light. Currently the only AMOLED display that works in the sun is Super AMOLED screens from samsung. They have a coating on them that reflects ~80% of light, so they don't get overpowered by direct sunlight. However, Samsung has only put it's Super AMOLED screens on the Galaxy S and the Wave, IIRC. So, by all reasonable measure the Incredible will not be very visible in day light, but the EVO will.

[Mdonova33 Posted Apr 17th 2010 3:39PM]

@Almo
incredible, verizon network is better for now at least.

[Yakuzahi Posted Apr 19th 2010 9:55PM]

@jerbear
And also the "Good" reception of Sprint?!?!
With Verzion best service in the us i would take 2G and not Sprint.

[I Fling Poo Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:30PM]

Goodbye, Nexus One. Hello, Incredible. =P

[Chizzed Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:33PM]

@I Fling Poo

Why can't AT&T get phones like these? I mean, my iPhone 3GS is good but damn...I'd love some hot HTC + Android action right about now.

[I Fling Poo Posted Apr 15th 2010 12:34PM]

@Chizzed
Honestly, AT&T probably spent way too much money on the iphone and just can't make the deals that verizon can now. Right now, AT&T has one awesome phone, but Verizon is slowly getting some really good phones with a few awesome ones.