Not many phones come at the on-contract price of $249, save for the Epic 4G, and now, the latest addition to the Droid family - the R2-D2 edition of the Droid 2. At $249 it's not exactly cheap, but then again, that buys you not just the Star Wars-themed phone itself, but also:

  • a box designed to look like carbonite
  • a special Star Wars dock
  • the interactive live wallpapers we caught sight of earlier
  • a bunch of custom sounds, photos, and widgets
  • a "binoculars" app (your guess is as good as mine as to what that's for)
  • an Empire Strikes Back app that will be available from the Android Market for $2.99 for this device and all other Android phones on Verizon running Android 2.1 and above

Of course, the software side of this phone should be ported over to other Android devices soon enough - look no further than the clever hackers developers over at xda-developers for proof of that - but who could say no to an R2-D2-themed phone?

Anyhow, the thing goes on sale September 30, and supplies are, apparently, limited, so wait no longer - get your tent and your sleeping bag and find a Verizon store near you... now!

Press release below.

MAY THE DROID BE WITH YOU: LIMITED EDITION DROID™ R2-D2™ BY MOTOROLA LANDS ON VERIZON WIRELESS' NETWORK
DROID™ R2-D2™ by Motorola Brings the Galactic Empire to Customers
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless announced that the highly anticipated limited edition DROID™ R2-D2™ by Motorola will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in select Verizon Wireless Communication stores beginning Sept. 30. With a graphic design to look like the iconic Astromech Droid from the Star Wars™ Saga, the DROID™ R2-D2™ by Motorola will be packaged in a custom box resembling carbonite and come with a Star Wars media dock and wired stereo headset. Exclusive content comes pre-loaded on the special edition smartphone, including:
· R2-D2 notification sounds and ringtones
· Four live wallpapers
· R2-D2 Clock Widget
· "The Best of R2-D2" video with the original Cantina music
· Exclusive Binoculars App
Star Wars Mobile App Available for All Customers with Android 2.1 phones
To celebrate 30 years since the film hit theaters, customers with Android devices running Android 2.1 or higher will soon be able to get the Empire Strikes Back app from Android Market™. The app, only for Verizon Wireless customers, allows Jedi Masters to browse, preview and download Star Wars content related to Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. Verizon Wireless customers can access premium Star Wars content for a one-time charge of $2.99.
The Star Wars mobile app will have the following features and content:
· Bounty Hunt Visual ID: Find and capture images around the Star Wars universe to unlock hidden content
· Sound and Photo Gallery
· Live Wallpapers:
o Blast the Probe Droid
o Luke Balancing Yoda
o Navigating the Asteroid Field
o Watch Bespin's Cloud City
· Trivia Challenge: Answer trivia questions about The Empire Strikes Back
· Widgets
The DROID™ R2-D2™ by Motorola will be available for $249 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan (beginning at $39.99 monthly access) and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan (beginning at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access). Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
For more information on DROID™ R2-D2™ by Motorola, go to www.droiddoes.com/r2d2.