Motorola Droid's Android OS 2.2 Upgrade Won't Include Hotspot Software

When the version of Google's Android OS 2.2 for the original Motorola Droid is released later this week, it won't include software that allows it to act as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, sharing its 3G connection with other devices.

The hotspot functionality is built into the new version of Google's operating system, but Verizon says the original Droid lacks necessary hardware.

According to a statement from an official company spokesperson:

"The Droid by Motorola doesn't have [the] hardware to support a Mobile Hotspot. With tethering there is no Connection on the PC side that will allow you to tether the device so the answer is that option isn't part of this update."

What IS in the Update
Android OS 2.2 is required for devices to run Adobe Flash Player 10.1, which allows the web browser to fully make use of websites that use Flash for navigation, games, and showing video.

The latest version of Google's OS also contains a number of other small enhancements, such as the ability to store applications on a removable memory card, but none of the improvements significantly change the platform.

An Overview of the Motorola Droid
The Motorola Droid was once this company's flagship model, though bigger and beter smartphones have come along in recent months. This device sports a large, high-resolution capacitive Touchscreen and a landscape-oriented QWERTY keyboard. Nevertheless, it still has a slim design.

As this smartphone runs the Android OS, it has a suite of applications that can wirelessly synchronize with Google's services, including Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, and Maps, as well as Microsoft Exchange. An extensive catalog of third-party apps is also available.

The Droid comes with a 16 GB memory card, GPS receiver, and a 5 MPx camera.

Verizon Wireless is the exclusive U.S. provider of the Motorola Droid.

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