On Thursday, July 15, the much-awaited Motorola Droid X - the latest version of Motorola's Android-based Droid line up - will hit the Verizon Wireless stores. The highly- extolled handset will cost $299; or $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Powered by the Android 2.1 OS, which will be upgraded to version 2.2 `Froyo' later this summer, the Droid X is apparently a very compelling smartphone, boasting features like - a high-resolution, 4.3-inch WVGA screen; 1GHz processor; 8GB built-in storage, with a microSD slot for upgrade to 16GB or 32GB; a dual-flash, 8-megapixel camera; an HD camcorder; and a 1540mAh battery that can provide eight hours of talk time and 220 hours of standby time.

The Droid X appears to be hitting the market at a very opportune time, giving the fact that Sprint's HTC EVO 4G - another attractive Android smartphone - is facing supply shortages; while the Apple iPhone 4 has been hit with its antenna's "death grip"-related issues.

In addition, Verizon seemingly is leaving no stone unturned to promote the Droid X - the carrier has not only flooded the market with Droid X promos, but has also purchased at least one full-page advertisement in the New York Times, thumping the iPhone 4!

Motorola itself has an amusing slogan for the Droid X, calling it "a pocket-sized home theater"; while the New York Times' David Pogue has said that the handset is a "speed rocket... a snappy, responsive gadget."