US mobile phone carrier Verizon is the latest company to announce that it is hopping into bed with Google to develop a range of Android powered handsets.

The news, announced on Tuesday, comes as Microsoft launches its Windows Phone, or Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system with a range of new and updated handsets.

"The two industry leaders will create, market and distribute products and services", Verizon and Google said in a joint statement before adding, "consumers will be able to purchase products resulting from the collaboration in Verizon Wireless retail and online stores".

According to the companies, the two mobile powerhouses plan to co-develop several Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with innovative applications from both parties as well as third-party developers and be released in the coming months.

Although details of what those handsets would be and who would be making them are scarce, the two CEO's might have inadvertently leaked two possible new handsets already thanks to the photo shoot after the announcement.

Looking at the photo call pictures it clearly shows Eric Schmidt holding a currently unreleased handset - perhaps a Verizon version of the HTC Hero - while the Verizon CEO looks to be also holding an announced handset, which some have said could be an unannounced Motorola handset. The Motorola Sholes.

We will keep you posted. 

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