A major contender to the iPhone, Google's Droid smartphone, took center stage this week. With Verizon in its corner, Droid matches up well against reigning champ iPhone. Analysts were quick to size up Droid's advantages, assess its chances, and even start to track its presales.

Check out the stories that cover what's shaping up to be smartphone's main event:

Is the Droid Good News for iPhone Owners?

"The more platforms, the merrier," says Gartner analyst. "Competition is a good thing."

Verizon Droid: 5 Standout Features

Well, gang, it's official: Verizon's Motorola Droid smartphone is on its way into the world. The Droid, unveiled Wednesday, will hit store shelves on November 6 with a $199.99 price tag, after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a new two-year contract.

Motorola Droid Vs. Apple IPhone 3GS: Finally, a Contender?

Today's formal unveiling of the Motorola Droid smartphone on Verizon's network was an anticlimax, given most of the details had been leaked days earlier. Nevertheless, it's the boldest, most open iPhone challenge yet.

Why Verizon's Droid Isn't an iPhone Killer

It will need to rob the iPhone of its customers, and it won't come even close.

Droid: Motorola's Savior Or Google's False Profit?

Too much, as least so early, is being made of the Motorola Droid's supposedly magical powers. Can a single handset "save" Motorola, launch a new operating system, and smite the evil Steve Jobs?

Motorola Droid: Let the Presales Begin!

You may not be able to get your hands on Verizon's Motorola Droid for another week, but you can get your name on one starting today. Best Buy opened the doors to the first Droid presale on Thursday -- and it's offering an instant rebate if you sign up, too.

Tom Kaneshige is a senior writer for CIO.com. Send him an email at tkaneshige@cio.com. Or follow him on Twitter @kaneshige. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline.