Verizon to roll out 4G LTE Droid Xyboard Tablets

Verizon Wireless said that it will be rolling out two high-speed tablets from Motorola Mobility for use on its 4G LTE network later this month. Called the Droid Xyboard 8.2 and Droid Xyboard 10.1, the new models are less than 9mm in thickness and weigh 13.9 oz and 1.3 lbs, respectively.

Sporting magnesium-reinforced bodies and aluminum housings, the 8.2-inch and 10.1-inch Droid Xyboard tablets will first ship with Android 3.1, also known as Honeycomb. The tablets will be upgraded next year over-the-air to Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich.

The other good news for Verizon's enterprise-class customers is that both Xyboard tablets integrate a number of business-friendly features. Among other things, the tablets feature "device encryption, VPN, remote device management and feature blocking," said Motorola Mobility spokesperson Kira Golin.

"This is also the first tablet with 3LM software, which enables a powerful level of control and security over the device," Golin said.

Tablet Features:
Both of Motorola's tablets ship with Active Sync for work e-mail, contacts and calendar. The mobile devices also will arrive with apps aboard that are squarely aimed at business professionals, such as Quickoffice HD for document editing and creation, Citrix GoToMeeting for collaboration and productivity, and Google Talk for videoconferencing.

The Droid Xyboard 10.1 also has been optimized for use with a stylus that ships with the device to enable business professionals to make notes or mark up documents by writing directly on the device's screen. A wide range of accessories such as multiple docking options and a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard with integrated track pad make it even easier to work while on the go.

The Droid Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1 are equipped with high-definition, 1080-pixel displays protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass as well as a coating of water-repellent nano-particles.

Under the hood, both devices integrate 1.2 GHz dual-core processors, 1 GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera that doubles as an HD camcorder and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera in support of two-way enterprise videoconferencing.

Beyond offering a full range of cellular radios from standard GSM to 4G LTE, the Droid Xyboard sports Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 radios, together with an infra-red transmitter. Wired connectivity options include separate MicroUSB and USB 2.0 HS ports as well as a HDMI connector for interfacing with compatible high-definition displays and other home entertainment gear.

Entertainment Options:
For prosumers who wish to use their tablets for both work and play, the Droid Xyboard tablets also offer a range of multimedia entertainment enhancements. For example, both devices arrive preloaded with a universal remote control app called Dijit.

On the audio side, Motorola's new tablets deliver a virtual surround sound experience. Also on tap is MotoCast - an app that will enable users to remotely access the non DRM-protected music, photos, videos and documents stored on their hard drives at home or work.

Verizon's Droid Xyboard 8.2 models with 16 GB and 32 GB of storage will be priced at $430 and $530, respectively. Verizon will also offer three Droid Xyboard 10.1 models with 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB storage priced at $530, $630 and $730.

All five Droid Xyboard offerings require two-year Verizon service commitments. Moreover, buyers will need to subscribe to one of Verizon's Wireless Mobile Broadband data plans, which range upward from $30 per month for 2 GB of data.

However, prospective buyers should keep in mind that it won't take them long to run through 2 GB of data on Verizon's 4G LTE network. According to the carrier, users can expect web browsing speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share