Another Verizon 4G Android, HTC Mecha, Stomps In

Android’s strong advantage over rivals Apple and RIM is arguably ubiquity — there’s a deluge of models to choose from.

Newly leaked images indicate the next addition to Verizon’s Android stable is going to be the HTC Mecha, also known as the HTC Incredible HD.  The new smartphone will become Verizon’s second 4.3-inch Android smartphone, joining Motorola’s Droid X.

Hardware-wise the phone is reportedly very similar to the HTC EVO 4G, which is on Sprint’s network.  It is also the direct successor to Verizon’s Droid Incredible by HTC.  The phone looks to be perhaps Verizon’s first 4G-enabled Android smartphone.  Leaked shots of the phone show its GUI displaying a “4G” indicator, likely indicating traffic on Verizon’s LTE network.

Verizon is trying to keep up with Sprint, rapidly rolling out LTE to a number of cities.  Currently the network is exclusively used by Verizon’s broadband air card customers, with no 4G phones yet available.

The network recently announced plans to cover 30 “NFL cities” by the end of this year.  Last month Verizon’s President and COO Lowell McAdam announced at CTIA 2010 in San Francisco that Verizon would cover 38 cities by June 2011.

The company also promises “half a dozen” smartphones by next June — one of which is likely the HTC Mecha.

Based on the leaked shots, the Mecha will run Android 2.2 “Froyo” and the HTC’s latest version of its Sense UI.  Expect sweet data speeds of 5-12Mbps down and 2-5Mbps up speeds with 30-150ms latency when the 4G link is working — those are Verizon’s publicized targets for LTE.

Earlier this month images of an LG Verizon LTE phone leaked.