Droid Razr Maxx trumps the iPhone as Verizon's best-selling handset

Apple’s iPhone has been overtaken as the best-selling smartphone among the top three wireless carriers in the US, according to analyst Anil Doradla from William Blair & Company. In a note to investors this week, Doradla says that theDroid Razr Maxx has become the most popular handset among Verizon customers.

Doradla suspects the iPhone’s slip on Verizon isn’t related to customers holding out for the next generation modelexpected later this year but rather a heavy marketing campaign by the carrier to sell more 4G LTE devices like the Razr Maxx.

CNET writer Eric Mack said Verizon’s push to get customers to buy LTE products lines up with his own personal experience as he was directed towards the 4G Razr and Galaxy Nexus after asking about the iPhone 4S when calling the carrier earlier this year. The customer service rep was reportedly quick to point out the iPhone’s lack of 4G LTE compatibility.

Despite the slip on Verizon, the analyst isn’t concerned about Apple’s prospects for the future. The new iPhone is expected to ship with a 4G radio, leading Doradla to believe that it will be an important catalyst for Apple. Furthermore, he reiterates his Outperform rating on Apple shares.

For what it’s worth, the iPhone is still the top selling smartphone at both AT&T and Sprint. On Verizon, the Galaxy Nexus ranked third in Doradla’s “checks.” It’s unclear exactly what methods he used to gather sales information for his investor report.

Verizon doubles 4G LTE data cap ahead of Droid Razr launch

Verizon has launched promotion that will substantially boost the bandwidth cap imposed on its 4G customers. Starting today (November 8 for the calendar-impaired), the carrier is doubling its allowable consumption of wireless traffic without charging extra. Subscribers who pay $30 for 2GB of bandwidth will receive 4GB per month, $50 will get you 10GB instead of 5GB and folks that cough up $80 will be afforded 20GB instead of 10GB.

There doesn't seem to be any catches, though existing 4G customers will have to specifically request the increase whereas new customers will receive the higher limits outright. It's unlikely that this promotion will last forever. In other words, you'll only have a limited opportunity to request the higher caps. However, once applied, the change will last for the lifetime of your account according to a Verizon representative speaking withRootzWiki.

It's by no coincidence that Verizon's latest 4G marketing efforts kick off only three days before it's expected to launch the hotly-anticipated Motorola Droid Razr. Based on early reviews and hands-on impressions, the handset is poised to be among the finest to date. It boasts a 7.1mm, 4.48oz body crafted from stainless steel and Kevlar, a 4.3-inch display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8MP camera, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microSD, USB and HDMI connectivity.

The Droid Razr officially launches this Friday, November 11, but it's been available for preorder since late last month. Pricing is set at $299 with a two-year contract. Shortly after the Razr's arrival, Verzion will add the HTC Rezound and Samsung Galaxy Nexus to its 4G LTE offerings. The lineup currently includes the Motorola Droid Bionic, Samsung Stratosphere and Droid Charge, LG Revolution, Pantech Breakout, and HTC Thunderbolt. Oursmartphone guide was recently updated if you're looking for a more conclusive rundown of today's most popular handsets.