Verizon Wireless has begun selling a new version of the Droid 2 Android slider with a faster 1.2GHz processor and quad-band GSM global roaming. Otherwise identical to the previous Droid 2, the Motorola Droid 2 Global is also said to offer an improved keyboard and lower battery life.

Verizon Wireless last week very quietly began selling the Motorola Droid 2 Global, a faster device than its predecessor and one that works around the world.

The price is $200 with a two-year contract, the same deal Verizon offered when it began selling the Motorola Droid 2 slider in August. Since then, Verizon slashed that price to $150 to get the devices out the door to clear room for the Droid Pro and Droid 2 Global.

Like the Droid 2, the Droid 2 Global (pictured at right and below) is based on Android 2.2, sports a 3.7-inch, 854 x 480 (WVGA) screen, and offers a five-megapixel camera. Both handsets sport the same dimensions and weigh six ounces.

However, the Droid 2 Global offers some internal improvements over the Droid 2.

First, the Droid 2 is geared for U.S. networks, but the Droid 2 Global is equipped with quad-band GSM global roaming. That means it runs on both Verizon's usual CDMA networks and GSM networks, a departure from Verizon's basic CDMA support in the U.S. Thanks to this, users will be able to use the phone in over 200 countries.

In that respect, Droid 2 Global matches the just-launched Motorola Droid Pro, which also supports CDMA and GSM networks.

Perhaps even more notable is the Global's speed. The Droid 2 was powered by a 1GHz processor, but the Droid 2 Global moves up to a 1.2GHz processor.

As is often the case, Motorola did not list the processor used. The CPU in the earlier Droid 2 has been widely reported to be the Texas Instruments OMAP3630, also said to be used in the Droid X as well as the Palm Pre 2.

Finally, Motorola said the Droid 2 Global's keyboard has been slightly refined over the Droid 2 with an "improved tactile response."

Interestingly, about the only noticeable upside to the U.S.-based Droid 2 is the battery life.

Even though the Droid 2 Global uses a 1420mAh battery compared to the Droid 2's 1400 mAh power supply, the Droid 2 whips the Global with 9.6 hours of talk time vs. 8.3 hours for the Global. While the Droid 2 offers 13.1 days of standby time, the Global provides only 9.6 days.

Chalk that up to the Global's more powerful processor draining juice quicker than its predecessor.

The Motorola Droid 2 Global

Other similarities between the devices include integrated Google, Exchange, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter contacts. As with the original Droid 2, the Global model offers push email support for Gmail, Exchange, and Yahoo, among other perks.

Motorola has seen its fortunes rise on the Droid lineup, as well as other, lower-end Motorola Android phones offered by other carriers.

Availability

The Droid 2 Global is now available for $200 with a two-year contract. More information may be found here, and technical specs may be found here.

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