Keeping up the pace with its successful Android-based handset foray, Motorola on Thursday announced the latest addition to its Droid portfolio – the Droid X. The forthcoming device will see the US vendor continue its partnership with local CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless, which will offer the device from July 15.

The Droid X boasts a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen; dual-flash, eight megapixel camera; HD camcorder; as well as DLNA and HDMI connectivity; and a 1Ghz processor; video platform Blockbuster On Demand will also be integrated as part of the V Cast Video service.

Users of the Droid X will also get to upgrade to Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 with an over-the-air update in the latter half of the summer.

The device will cost $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement and the option to add the 3G Mobile Hotspot service for $20 per month, allowing customers to turn the phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible wifi devices.

“It has been an exciting time for Android momentum and global consumer adoption since the announcement of Droid by Motorola nine months ago,” said Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering for Google. “There are 160,000 new Android-powered devices activated daily and Android Market has grown to over 65,000 applications. Plus later this summer, Verizon Wireless and Motorola will update all the Droid by Motorola phones to the latest 2.2 software. For customers, this means great new features and improved browser performance. For developers, this will provide new tools such as cloud-to-device messaging and enhanced enterprise functionality.”

Meanwhile, in other news, the Apple iPhone 4 went on sale in the US and Europe, with eager consumers queuing from the very early hours of Thursday morning to get their hands on the device.

Apple has already said that stocks might run short after pre-orders for the iPhone 4 topped more than 600,000 in a single day, when hotlines opened June 17, causing problems with the reservation system.

An O2 Store In Central London At 9Am On Thursday

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Eager Consumers Were Queuing Overnight