Verizon, which offers its 'tethering' service - Mobile Broadband Connect - for a number of its data-capable 3G smartphones, has confirmed that the capability is also a part of its forthcoming Motorola Droid; thereby implying that the Droid will carry the option connecting to a laptop.

Though Verizon would likely provide the tethering capability for the Droid only by next year, it has confirmed that the cost of the capability will be an additional monthly charge of $30, thus resulting in a two-fold increase in Droid-related data fees.

Already, the post-rebate cost of the Droid is $200, with a two-year contract; and the service plans include the Verizon Nationwide voice plan priced at $40 per month for 450 voice minutes, and the $30-priced Email and Web for Smartphone plan.

Going by the information forwarded by the Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney, the tethering capability of the Droid will allow the users to transfer 5GB of data; and for each additional megabyte beyond that limit, the company will be charging 5 cents.

Noting that the tethering option for the Droid will come "next year," Raney added that reason for the delay is that "the service has to be tested on the phone so until we know it works, we don't offer the service. It is not uncommon for us to introduce the phone and continue to test the service and offer it later."