T-Mobile G1 announced - Live Photos & Video
24 September 2008 - 9:47Today was a huge day for Google and T-Mobile with the announcement of the first phone to come loaded with Android. The official release date of the T-Mobile G1 will be Wednesday October 22nd. Pre-sales started immediately after the announcement for the upgrade price of $179. The G1 has a 3.2-inch 320 x 480 (HVGA) resolution capacitive touchscreen, a flip-out full QWERTY keyboard, dual-band UMTS HSPA, quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth. There’s also a 3.2-megapixel fixed-focus camera, microSD slot (with a 1GB card provided and up to 8GB supported) and a trackball for navigation.
Videos and hands-on images of the new T-Mobile G1 Google Phone after the cut!
The phone comes preloaded with most of the essentials including Google Search, Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Contacts, Calendar and IM. Out of the box it has access to Amazon’s MP3 download store, but you’ll need to download a video player from the Android Market. Google Street View was added to this device with a convenient compass feature to help with navigation: turning while holding the phone automatically pans the display, so it’s always in the direction you’re pointing.
The design of the G1 is very similar to that of the Sidekick series with a hidden keyboard and trackball. The angled “chin” appears to be for extra support when holding the device in landscape orientation. As for the menu button, it seems a lot easier to access and use in landscape mode, as if it were created for use with the keyboard. The G1 comes in white, soft black and soft brown. It appears rather than going for a sleek look, HTC was aiming at better functionality and a much better feel in your hand.
Competitively priced data plans start at $25 with unlimited web & some text messages, and $35 with unlimited data and messaging. The draw back to these plans being the 1 Gig cap on data usage. Some would-be buyers are finding that the $179 price isn’t available to them, and that they’re being charged as much as $299.
There’s a thriving forum and more information over at Android Community, so if you’re interesting in the G1 or Android as a platform, head on over!
T-Mobile G1 Hands-On:
T-Mobile G1 Android Market:
T-Mobile G1 Hands-On 2:
Amazon MP3 download demo:
YouTube & Media Player demo:
T-Mobile G1 Settings walkthrough:
9 Comments | Tags: Android, Android Community, Google, Google Phone, HTC, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, Touchscreen
24 Sep 2008 - 10:15
Yeah, I’m pretty disgusted with T-Mobile and their pricing of this. Not only do I not qualify for the $179 - because I’m already a good, paying customer of theirs, but no matter who you are you still have to pay the additional $25 or $35 monthly data fee..Oh, AND you get to extend your contract by an extra two years. What a way to say thanks to your loyal customers, T-Mobile. I think my $299 would be better spend breaking my contract.
24 Sep 2008 - 10:44
The Google Android (Linux), is bound by the GPL and is open. This smartphone platform will have OGG multimedia apps, and be the next open-tv mobile platform. sites like OGGTV will have OGG mobile content tailored for the Android, and you will see super cool apps like (VLC for Android and others).
24 Sep 2008 - 13:27
Well I like the concept but its no where to be compared to the popularity and the look of SLEEK APPLE IPHONE. I think google needs a workout on their phones to make them slim and sleek and marketable. This might lure the customers due to lower price tag but will not give the desired approach…
24 Sep 2008 - 13:29
I am existing T-Mobile user and tried to purchase this phone. It shows $299 instead of $179. Thats a big lie. Now I lost my interest to buy this phone after seeing their false price.
24 Sep 2008 - 14:54
I just ordered my G1 from T-mobil website. I hope that it is worth the hype around this phone.
25 Sep 2008 - 7:54
This seems interesting. I wish this phone was launched in India too, instead of Iphone, which is a crap. I would love to have a hands on experience of this phone once it is launched in India. Eagerly waiting for this one….
26 Sep 2008 - 2:08
Maybe if you wait a few months after the release you can purchase one at walmart in the checkout line along with all the other tmobile phones? Think i heard it was only like 20 Units a min for browsing. At a dollar a unit it sure sounds like a steal to me. I like the phone but the service is a little ghetto sounding. Maybe if verizon or at&t gets the phone when everyones units run out i may consider. Google is my homepage but prob never my phone if tmobile trys to lock that sucker forever. Too bad. Google is more well known than any service provider or popular phone names Im willing to bet. Google flushed that good idea but hopefully it will get good with another service provider soon.
15 Oct 2008 - 23:10
I wish this phone was launched in India too, . I would love to have a hands on experience of this phone once it is launched in India. Eagerly waiting for this one….
20 Nov 2008 - 14:27
I cant get to download………. adobe flash need help