San Francisco - Google's plans to challenge the dominance of Apple's iPhone received a major boost Tuesday when the company announced an agreement with Verizon, the largest US carrier, to co- develop phones based on its Android operating system. The companies said that the new devices that will be preloaded with their applications, plus others from third parties in a move seen as an attempt to challenge Apple's App Store, which makes thousands of third party applications available to iPhone users. Google and Verizon will also jointly market and distribute products and services, they said in Tuesday morning's announcement.
The phones will be made by leading device manufacturers with the first handsets due to hit stores within weeks.
Verizon is the largest US mobile phone carrier, but has seen its lead slip as customers flock to buy Apple's hit iPhones, which are available in the US exclusively from Verizon's rival AT&T.
"The Android platform allows Verizon Wireless customers to experience faster and easier access to the web from any location," said Google CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt. "Through this partnership, we hope to deliver greater innovation in the mobile space to consumers across the US."
