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.

Nearly lost in the shuffle is Canada-based Research In Motion (RIM), which the AP reported today is planning to launch a touch-screen version of its BlackBerry smart phone. Although few details are available (such as when exactly it will be available), the AP reports that the new device will be called the BlackBerry Storm 9530 and provide RIM with a product that is more competitive in the consumer market with the iPhone and, now, the G1.

4 Comments

1. 1. Choaxman 05:57 PM 10/3/08

   hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
   
   
   I don't care what nobody say
   I'm a be me (be me)
   Stay hood, stay rasied in the streets
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   Niggas talk about greatness whenever they speak about me (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't splitting nothing with nobody homie
   I gotta give me me
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't slept in 8 days
   I can go for 8 weeks
   Ain't nothing to me cause I am the streets.
   
   [Rick Ross:]
   Put my life on the line
   But I'm likely to ride
   I'm on top of the game
   F**k If you like it or not
   Ask how I get them freaks
   Strawberry swishy sweets
   You'll be dealing with H when you dealing with G's
   Now she deal with the realest
   Shopping like it's still December
   Diplomat on the fender of the phantom I'm the winner
   I do it for the hood
   I do it cause you're gay
   You suckers wish you could ricky ross im in the bank
   
   [Plies:]
   Hey feds,
   Heard your bringing my name up
   Know you want me bad
   Think I give a f**k
   Better indict me now
   Before price go up
   Came in the world thuggin leaving with big nuts
   Yeah I run it with killas homie, so what?
   What you want me to say, i sold a little dust?
   Send your informant
   I bet he leave bust
   I ain't scared to go
   I believe in Jesus
   
   [Akon:]
   I don't care what nobody say
   I'm a be me (be me)
   Stay hood, stay rasied in the streets
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   Niggas talk about greatness whenever they speak about me (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't splitting nothing with nobody homie I gotta give me me
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't slept in 8 days
   I can go for 8 weeks
   Ain't nothing to me
   Cause I am the streets
   
   [Lil Boosie:]
   W E T H E B E S T DJ Khaley (WE DA BEST)
   W E T H E B E S T (DJ Khaled) That's ME!
   W E T H E B E S T DJ Khaley (WE DA BEST)
   W E T H E B E S T (DJ Khaled) That's ME!
   I wake up to get my cake up I'm out to grind
   What can I say
   I'm a product of my environment
   Uh oh, I'm in the game
   Watch me do me
   Kickin these niggas
   Khaled man call this bruce lee
   Summer winter spring I can't forget the fall
   I still remain a dog
   A diabetic and all
   All I want is my paper
   I don't care what they say
   They stick their tongue out when they bow they head (Cause We Da Best)
   
   [Trick Daddy:]
   You niggas fly
   Before you were just maggots
   I'm the shit bitch
   Because I'm black flagging
   Yes sir the DR the new sqaud
   You niggas all soft
   We go hard
   They like oh god there go t double
   He got his clique and his brothers (haha)
   I know it's gon be trouble
   Dark boys on the black gas see they don't black mask
   Now they cant stand my black ass
   
   [Akon:]
   I don't care what nobody say
   I'm a be me (be me)
   Stay hood, stay rasied in the streets
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   Niggas talk about greatness whenever they speak about me (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   (Lil Wayne: Khaled I got ya)
   I ain't splitting nothing with nobody homie
   (Lil Wayne: Its the Monster)
   I gotta give me me
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   (Lil Wayne: Imaa beassst, Ima Beeeasssttt)
   I ain't slept in 8 days
   I can go for 8 weeks
   Ain't nothing to me cause I am the streets
   
   [Ace Hood:]
   Hey knock knock
   Yea I'm knocking on the banks door
   With the million dollars and I'm dropping off the cash flow
   See you ain't heard I hit a lick
   Now my money right
   Spend it on the u-haul dipping on the turn pike
   Call up my dogs
   Rag on my face
   Bodies gon fall
   Tell em it's Ace
   If I catch a charge
   Nigga ima flee the state
   Hit my niggas LA Reid and Khaled
   Watch me beat the case
   
   [lil wayne:]
   haha and we are the best
   and weezy be the shhs
   like two hs after s
   i got these niggaz on shhs like i gone deaf
   and i'm right right, you're wrong left
   hahaha check out the bizzare
   i'm regularly irregular
   khaled best dj, weezy best rapper
   if khaled say its a movie then weezy best actor
   
   
   [Akon:]
   I don't care what nobody say
   I'm a be me (be me)
   Stay hood, stay rasied on the streets
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   Niggas talk about greatness
   Whenever they speak about me (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't splitting nothing with nobody homie I gotta give me me
   (Cause I'm out here grindin')
   I ain't slept in 8 days
   I can go for 8 weeks
   Ain't nothing to me cause I am the streets!
   
   

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2. 2. Choaxman 05:58 PM 10/3/08

   and i really want i G1
   
   it seems like a awesome phone

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3. 3. smart phone 11:26 PM 3/25/10

   Android is a good system and its good that S/E is embracing an existing OS and providing a platform for it. The competition in the smart phone market is a promising thing for consumers of smartphones, I look forward to seeing what comes out of it.More information from http://www.sourcinggate.com/smart-cell-phone-c-174.html
   
   

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4. 4. smart phone 11:29 PM 3/25/10

   Thank you for the impressive information. I have learned so much from you.

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