T-Mobile/HTC G1: First Android phone arrives

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 24 September 2008 04:09

Your IT - Mobility

The G1 is preloaded with several Google applications, namely Search, Maps (including Street View), Gmail with Contacts, Calendar, Google Talk, and YouTube. Street View is integrated with the G1's built-in compass, so the images reflect the direction you're facing. Cute, but it's hard to see how useful this is - if you're already there, how does Street View help?

Other applications include a music player, access to Amazon's MP3 store, and a web browser.

Like the iPhone's Safari, the Android browser lets you use full-size web pages by zooming and scrolling. But instead of the multi-touch 'pinch', onscreen buttons are used to zoom in or out. Multiple web pages can be kept open, but only one is visible at a time.

Additional applications will be available through the Android Market. Unlike Apple's App Store, Android Market does not vet applications, so developers will be able to build applications with confidence that they won't be denied access to the marketplace.

One gap in the G1's specs waiting to be filled is Exchange compatibility, something considered essential by many business users.

Full retail price for the T-Mobile G1 is $US399.99, with a $US100 online discount. Current T-Mobile customers eligible for a 'two year upgrade' can get a G1 for $US179.99. Orders are being accepted for delivery on or after the October 22 on-sale date.

It seems the G1 will be initially available in black or brown, with white to follow at a later date. And yes, it is locked to T-Mobile, so be prepared for hefty bills if you use it while travelling overseas.

There's no point buying the phone if you can't afford the data access. T-Mobile's offering 400 SMS and unlimited data for $US25 per month. If you're a heavy texter, an extra $US10 buys unlimited messages. That's on top of a voice plan, of course, but unlimited data for $US25 sounds like a good deal from where we sit.