The G1 Android phone: Google’s gamechanger

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 28 September 2008 17:28

Opinion and Analysis

So, the long-awaited Google phone, the G1, has landed on Planet Earth at last. Previouly stuck in the land of Planet Prototype, Google has finally introduced its own handheld computer phone, bursting into the category as a top level player and another instant gamechanger.
October 22 is the day US consumers can start taking possession of Google’s new Internet-connected handheld computer phone, giving users a Google-flavoured view of their digital lives from the palms of their hands.

Q1 2009 will see Europeans officially able to buy their own handheld Googlephones, and while dates for the rest of the world have not yet been set, surely an Apple-esque “later in 2009” timeline is already on the cards.

Already, despite not having the iPhone’s multi-touch capabilities or some of its extra sophistication, the gPhone most certainly seems to have hit the gSpot.

Designed by Andy Rubin, the man behind the Danger, Inc “Sidekick” smartphone, Google purchased Andy’s company, Android Inc, back in mid-2005, with the details and speculation back then making for interesting reading, especially now that the G1 has finally launched.

Since then, Google has worked with T-Mobile and HTC to create its own operating system, applications, back end servers and services and the hardware itself, a package which by admission from Google’s founders at the T-Mobile launch is a handheld computer with as much power as desktop computers from just a few years ago.

The launch event, linked above, is available to watch as a streaming video, highlighting the open nature of the G1 and the appeal that will have for developers and consumers, alongside the open nature of the T-Mobile network.

The hardware is built by HTC, well known for its Windows Mobile smartphones, and while the phone isn’t as sleek as the iPhone, it still looks like an incredibly solid first effort from Google built upon years of HTC’s handset manufacturing experience.

T-Mobile has its TV advertisement for the G1 on its T-Mobile G1 site, briefly highlighting the phone’s most important features such as its large screen, the touch screen interface, one-click access to Google search, the Qwerty keyboard and Street View showing an expanded view just by moving the phone in the required direction.

What else have we learned about the G1? There's plenty more - please read on to page 2.