Verizon to sell HTC Android phone for $99.99

* Verizon to sell HTC's Droid Eris for $99.99

* Droid Eris is similar to Sprint's $180 Hero

NEW YORK Nov 5 (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that it would sell an HTC Corp (2498.TW) phone based on Google Inc's (GOOG.O) Android system for $99.99, potentially putting pressure on smaller carrier Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N).

The device Droid Eris, which goes on sale Nov. 6, is very similar to HTC's Hero phone, which Sprint currently sells for $179.99, according to Sprint's website.

The Droid Eris joins the Verizon Wireless Android phone line-up along with the heavily advertised Droid from Motorola Inc MOT.N, which also goes on sale Nov. 6. Motorola's Droid is also based on Google's operating system.

Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L), is looking to create a buzz around its phone range for the holiday season in the hope of winning back ground lost to AT&T Inc (T.N), the exclusive U.S. provider for Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPhone. (Reporting by Sinead Carew, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)