Moto RAZR2 launches at Sprint, Q9m at Verizon

Sprint today became the first carrier in North America to ship the RAZR2 V9m, carrying the phone through its online store. As revealed in the provider's initial announcement, the uniquely blue-tinted phone shares the 2-megapixel camera, external touch display, and EVDO broadband of the reference model but taps into Sprint's music store Internet streaming radio and TV, and the ability to serve as a modem over Bluetooth or USB. Sprint offers its RAZR2 with a 256MB microSD card for $250 with a two-year contract or $400 without any obligation.

Separately, Verizon today began its promised offering of the Q9m, a media-oriented CDMA version of Motorola's newest smartphone. As promised, the Q9m includes both a media-specific interface for playing local and V CAST-based music and videos as well as a conventional interface for launching general programs, either of which can be accessed by a hot-swap button. The Windows Mobile 6 handset additionally sports EVDO mobile Internet, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and stereo Bluetooth. Unlike previous reports, the Q9m at Verizon will not ship with a 128MB memory card and will be available by itself for $300 with a two-year plan; special bundles will include a 2GB microSD card for an extra $50 and a 4GB card for an extra $150.