First Google Android phone by HTC on T-Mobile
23rd September 2008
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Google took the wraps of the very first Android phone to hit the market. The 3G-enabled G1 from HTC will be available on T-Mobile from the 22nd of October at $179 with a two year contract. The G1 is also coming to Europe, with the UK launch in November this year and Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands getting it early 2009.
Units were available to prod and test by the press and media at the launch event today, and for those who weren’t invited, Google kindly released a video demoing some of the features that will be included.
As for the handset itself, the following is what you’ll find inside:
HSDPA 1700 / 2100 plus quadband EDGE
WiFi
3D graphics acceleration
1GB integrated storage plus microSD expansion
3-megapixel camera
Android Market for on-device app purchases
Amazon MP3 app for on-device music purchases
Push Gmail support with full HTML client
Bluetooth (but no A2DP)
Google Maps with Street View
No Microsoft Exchange support
No desktop synchronization — it all happens over the air
Amazon announced that the G1 will include an application for integration with a DRM-free music store that will allow users to buy and download music tracks straight from the handset. There will also be an app store called Android Market for installing new applications and adding functionality directly on the handset. Whilst these are features that are already available and popular with the iPhone community, the major difference that Google are beating the drum about is that the Android platform is completely open source and anyone can write code for the device.
For the corporate world, the Android at the moment does not include Exchange support or desktop synchronisation. The tie-in with Google’s online services and single sign-on will happen over the air with a ‘push-like’ system that automatically downloads and syncs over the internet.
Update: Engadget reports that the G1 doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio connector – meaning you have to listen to all them lovely DRM-free music tracks through the headphones they supply which attach via a proprietary connector. The world cries in disappointment. Meanwhile, mediabistro.com lays out what’s missing on the Android. Find it at http://www.mediabistro.com/mobiledevicestoday/on/whats_missing_from_the_g1_first_take_95130.asp
