Google announces their own "gPhone"

[Maxintosh]

Google and T-Mobile Launch G1 Smart Phone with Android Software

 

Google, Inc. and T-Mobile today unveiled their much-anticipated G1 mobile phone, their answer to Apple's iPhone. The new T-Mobile G1 is expected to vigorously compete with Apple's iPhone when it hits store shelves on October 22 for high-end smart phone users who count on their mobiles nearly as much as they do their PCs for Internet access.

 

At $179, the G1 is cheaper than the 3G iPhone, which starts at $199. Despite rumors to the contrary, however, G1 users, like their iPhone compeers, will have to pay for Web access; ditto their e-mail accounts. Just as Apple's iPhone is joined at the hip with AT&T's wireless network, the G1 can be used only on T-Mobile's network. T-Mobile's data plans start at $25 per month.

 

The G1's not-so-secret weapon is Android, which provides the phone's operating system as well as a platform for the phone to run a variety of software programs. Google wrote Android using open-source software, which means any programmer has access to the source code that makes Android tick and can write software that runs on any mobile phone using Android.

 

Google has also created the Android Market, a Web site from which G1 users will be able to download an ever-expanding number of programs to their phone. ShopSavvy, for example, lets G1 users scan bar codes on products at stores with the camera on their phones and do instant price comparisons with online merchants and nearby stores. Another software program, Ecorio, allows users to record the steps they take throughout their day to calculate their carbon footprint.

 

"This is as good a computer as you had a few years ago, in your phone," said Larry Page, Google's co-founder and president of products, at a press conference today introducing the new phone. Page, who like Google co-founder and technology president Sergey Brin, arrived at the event wearing roller blades, added that, although the Internet still is not as robust on a mobile phone as it is on a PC, the G1 is an attempt to deliver a useful version of the mobile Web, particularly because people are more likely to be carrying their cell phone than their laptop, particularly when doing things like rollerblading.

 

The collective goal of Google, Austria-based T-Mobile and HTC Corporation headquartered in Taiwan (which makes the handset) is to create a bigger market in the U.S. for mobile Internet, which is now accessed primarily by laptops. "We're here to change that," Cole Brodman, T-Mobile USA's chief technology and innovation officer, said at the news conference. Brodman pointed out that the U.S. lags behind the rest of the world in mobile Internet usage, because most cell phones here lack the tools to access the Internet (the iPhone being one exception, of course). Peter Chou, HTC's president and CEO, added that the G1 is a "fundamental shift in where and how people consume the Internet."

 

Unlike the iPhone, the G1 features a mini QWERTY keyboard, which is accessed by sliding the touch screen to the side. When the keyboard is being used, the screen's orientation changes from vertical to horizontal. The G1 can open files created using Word, Excel and other Microsoft programs, with the exception of Exchange.

 

Apple fans will not be able to play their iTunes music files on the G1. Instead, T-Mobile is offering its own music service through Amazon Music.

 

Although the G1 does work with older T-Mobile networks, the device is designed to work best when connected to T-Mobile's 3G network. Current T-Mobile customers in the U.S. can preorder the T-Mobile G1 beginning today. (Everyone else has to wait until next month to pick up a G1 at a retailer or order via the Web). The T-Mobile G1 will be available in the U.K. beginning in November, and across Europe (including Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands) in the first quarter of 2009. link

 

More information about Android can be found here. Official G1 site can be found here.

[Wizi]

The design is far better than what my 8 years old sister is capable of, though.

 

But than still why would I buy this "thing" when HTC already give me phone like the Diamond Pro for example with all the cool features you can do with your fingers dragging on the display and the full QWERTY keyboard + the killing design? :censored2:

[Maxintosh]

I like it but it's far too thick. iPhones got the edge there.

[CLiDE FTW!!1]

Androids got alot of catching up to do. Mind you, it looks real neat.

 

A physical QWERTY keyboard is so necessary... sucks my iPhone doesn't have one.

[weaksauce12]

Androids got alot of catching up to do. Mind you, it looks real neat.

 

A physical QWERTY keyboard is so necessary... sucks my iPhone doesn't have one.

 

I think that would be a good idea, a LOT of fellow geeks I've talked to have said their main reason for not getting an iPhone is because of the lack of slide-out keyboard. A horizontal, landscape-oriented slider would be nice. But Steve Jobs doesn't seem to like buttons, so I doubt we'll ever see that happen. I'm actually pretty quick on the software keyboard now...I transitioned quickly because I had a Motorola Q with a physical keyboard before, so I was already used to typing on a QWERTY keyboard.

[ludacrisvp]

I think that would be a good idea, a LOT of fellow geeks I've talked to have said their main reason for not getting an iPhone is because of the lack of slide-out keyboard. A horizontal, landscape-oriented slider would be nice. But Steve Jobs doesn't seem to like buttons, so I doubt we'll ever see that happen. I'm actually pretty quick on the software keyboard now...I transitioned quickly because I had a Motorola Q with a physical keyboard before, so I was already used to typing on a QWERTY keyboard.

 

I am the same way. No iPhone for me I need a real keyboard.

Thats why I still use my Samsung SCH-i730 on Verizon.

its a Vertical slider with a curved QWERTY kb, 802.11b, full sized SD card, Stereo speakers, WM5.

And a crazy thing called a removable battery.

It comes with a regular and extended life battery.

When the iPhone or Gphone can do that let me know.