Motorola (MSI) Droid Razr M: Verizon Wireless takes pre-orders

NEW YORK (AP) -- Motorola is broadening the use of its Razr brand to a family of smartphones in its first major product launch under new owner Google.

   Verizon Wireless starts taking pre-orders Wednesday for the first of the new phones, the Droid Razr M. It's a cheaper, smaller phone than the Razr that Motorola Mobility launched last year. The Razr is the name of the wildly popular clamshell phone launched in 2004. Motorola hasn't had a hit since then.

   The $99 Razr M will be in stores next week.

   Motorola is following up with the launch of two high-end models, the Razr HD and Razr Maxx HD, later this year. It's emphasizing long battery life -- up to 21 hours of talk time for the Maxx HD, or 10 hours of video streaming.