Many of the 2,000 Verizon retail stores will open early Friday so customers can get their hands on the new Motorola Droid smartphone.

Some Verizon Wireless Communications Stores will open at 7 A.M., while others will open at 8 A.M.. Customers should check with their local stores for exact times, Verizon said. Stores that are located within shopping malls will not open early.

The device is available for $199 after a $100 rebate, with a two-year contract. It will be sold at Verizon Wireless stores, online, and at Best Buy. The advantage of buying the device at Best Buy is that the retailer will offer the $100 rebate at the point of sale. Customers who buy the Droid at Verizon stores have to go through the mail-in process to secure their rebate.