Apple's credited with helping to kick-start the popularity of mobile apps. Now, the iPhone maker is triggering another mobile trend: the $99 smartphone.

Verizon Wireless, along with some online stores who are selling Sprint's Palm Pre, are cutting smartphone prices to $99 in the wake of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and AT&T's move to slash the price of its older iPhone 3G to $99, after it debuted the newer 3G S model last month. AT&T (NYSE:T) is the exclusive carrier for the iPhone series.

The nation's largest mobile carrier, Verizon (NYSE: VZ), quickly cut the BlackBerry Storm to the $99 price point a few weeks ago. Now, it's dropped the price of most of its handsets to $99 as well -- including the HTC Touch Diamond, Touch Pro and Samsung Omnia.

Its most recent models, however, such as Research In Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry Tour and the Samsung Saga, still bear the traditional $199.

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