"iDon't have a real keyboard," the ad says, touting other "iDon't" feature shortcomings of the iPhone. The ad, which ran on TV this past weekend, ends with what may be the Droid's tagline: "Everything iDon't ... Droid Does."

First Android From Verizon

The Droid, the first Android device from Verizon, is expected to be released at the end of this month. Although specifications haven't been announced, a minimalist Droid page on the Verizon Web site indicates the new device will have a five-megapixel camera, speech recognition, video, multitasking and high resolution. In addition, Flash is supported by Android 2.0, and is not currently available for the iPhone.

By implication through the iDon'ts, the new Verizon phone may also have a real keyboard, take night shots, allow customization, use interchangeable batteries, and allow simultaneous running of applications and multitasking.

While images and prices haven't been released, photos that purport to be the Droid have appeared on several technology sites. Boy Genius Report, for instance, said it has used one. It described the Droid as "easily the most impressive" Android device yet, calling it "the most impressive phone we've used since the iPhone."

Verizon has said it will launch various Android-based feature phones, PDAs, notebooks and specialty devices in the near future as part of a partnership with Google. At least two of the phones are scheduled before Christmas.

iPhone 'Never About Features'

As Verizon creates products and ads for Google's open-source OS, the companies are showing new affection for each other. After Google pushed for open-access requirements for new bandwidth that the Federal Communications Commission auctioned last year, Verizon won the bid and began showing new enthusiasm for the idea of openness. Earlier this month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt complimented Verizon for its leadership on openness.

Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, cautioned that Verizon may not want to "take the iPhone on, feature by feature." This is because, he said, Apple has a strong record of fixing any missing features, as it has for many of the iPhone's capabilities since its original release.

More important, he said, the iPhone's success is "never about the features, but how they are implemented." No other mobile OS platform, Greengart added, "can match Apple's for its breadth and innovation," for the number of applications available in one place, or for its "unique user interface."

But the iPhone does have "points of vulnerability" that Verizon could attack, he pointed out. Greengart said "a big one" is the network, since there are many consumers who don't feel like they get good reception using AT&T , the iPhone's exclusive carrier in the U.S.

Additionally, he noted, there are Verizon Wireless customers who would like an iPhone -- or an iPhone-like device -- but aren't prepared to switch to AT&T to get it.