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Computerworld - Verizon Wireless today has started selling the new Motorola Devour smartphone for $150 after a rebate and with a two-year contract.

The slider device fits into an emerging concept being embraced by U.S. carriers -- offering a wireless phone that focuses on helping users access social contacts and offering the ability to easily send text and Web messages. The Motorola Devour, for example, includes a 3.1-inch touchscreen and an ample physical keyboard that appears when the touchscreen slides out.

While the new product concept may appear to be aimed mostly at the consumer market, the carriers say they are starting to get demand for the new features from workers who need quick messaging capabilities.

Motorola first announced in February that Verizon would sell Devour. Today it first disclosed the pricing and availability of the smartphone from Verizon.

Devour is the third Android-based smartphone available from Verizon, after the Droid, which went on sale last fall and the HTC Eris.

The Devour supports the Motoblur service, which allows users to synchronize contacts from work with personal e-mail as well as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Contacts and messages can be automatically backed up to a secure Motoblur portal.

Users will need a contract supporting talk, text and data to get access to all of Devour's features.

Verizon's talk and text plans started at $60 a month, and a smartphone data plan costs an additional $30 a month.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen, or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed . His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

Correction: This story has been changed since it was originally posted to correct that the Devour is the third Android-based phone from Verizon Wireless. The story had said it was the second.

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