T-Mobile G1 UK release October 30th

The T-Mobile G1, the first Android powered phone, will land in the UK on October 30th. The phone will then arrive only a week after the US release and will be available in two colours: white and black.

The phone will be free and priceplans will start from £40, including unlimited internet usage. Here's the full press release from T-Mobile UK:

T-Mobile G1 with Google to Hit the UK on 30 October

First phone to run on Android available from T-Mobile on 30 October

London, 15 October: T-Mobile today announces the hotly anticipated T-Mobile G1 – the phone built for the internet and the first to run on the innovative Android open source mobile software platform – will be available in the UK from 30 October.

Exclusive to T-Mobile, the G1 offers a completely new mobile internet experience with full touch screen functionality plus a QWERTY keyboard for easy online communication, high speed internet with popular Google services already on board, and access to innovative application downloads from the new Android Market.

Since unveiling the device in New York in September, over 25,000 UK consumers pre-registered their interest in the device. The wait will be over on 30 October as the T-Mobile G1 hits the shelves at T-Mobile stores just five weeks after its official unveiling.

The G1 is available for free on T-Mobile Combi and Flext price plans from £40 a month, including unlimited fast mobile internet browsing powered by T-Mobile’s award-winning network. Combi 35 offers 800 minutes and unlimited texts while Flext 40 gives up to 1,250 minutes or up to 2,500 texts or any mix of the two.

Jim Hyde, Managing Director T-Mobile UK said: “With so much excitement generated by the announcement last month, we’re thrilled to bring the T-Mobile G1 to the UK in time for Christmas. It’s set to revolutionise the way we use the internet on our mobiles: it’s uniquely built for effortless online communication – whether you want to email, text or blog – and with access to some groundbreaking applications on Android market, the possibilities really are endless.”

The T-Mobile G1 will feature a range of exciting applications pre-loaded at launch and with a couple of short clicks to Android Market, customers can find and download innovative applications from games and navigation tools to on-the-go shopping comparisons.

The G1’s full QWERTY keyboard makes it simple to write exactly what you want to say and navigating is even easier using the touch screen and trackball. There’s also one touch access to all your favourite Google applications including web search, Google Maps, Google Talk and Google Mail. So whether it’s email, instant messaging, social network updates or even calling and texting, the T-Mobile G1 is perfect for whatever form of communication you prefer.

With Google Maps, T-Mobile G1 users can instantly view maps, satellite imagery, find local business and get driving directions. And Google Maps synchs with the built-in compass – an industry first – to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand.

Vital statistics: The T-Mobile G1

• Available in two colours – black and white
• GPS and compass
• Rich HTML email client which seamlessly synchs email with POP3 or IMAP services
• 3.5G (HSDPA/HSUPA) and Wi-Fi connectivity
• 3 Mega pixel camera
• MP3 music player
• Pre-installed 2 GB Micro SD memory card (device supports up to an 8 GB card)
• Bluetooth-enabled
• Up to 130 hours standby and up to 5 hours talk time
• Dimensions: 117.7 x 55.7 x 26.5 mm
• Weight: 158g

Android is reality!

Android, a game changer

MobileTechNews have a very interesting article on how Android can become a game changer in the smartphone industry. Android if proved to be a success, will shift around not only consumers' habits, but also mobile networks' strategies and phone manufacturers.

Smarthphones only represent 14% of the total mobile traffic so a standardization, says MobileTechNews is the way forward for Google to push Android all the way to the top. The trick is to convince Mobile networks and especially phone manufacturers that not only smartphones should run on Android but also "normal" phones to offer a more coherent lineup and a more efficient, better service.

This is all based on an ABI research on Smartphone and OS Markets and according Kevin Burden, ABI Research director, "If Android is to become the ubiquitous mobile phone platform that Google and the Open Handset Alliance hope it will be, it will be because operators and handset OEMs recognize the value to their own business models of using standard platforms, not because wireless subscribers clamor for feature-rich phones, much less an Android-based phone."

This is definitely an interesting one because there is a lot at stake with Android. If Google manages to bring their experience in the Mobile world, especially its ad-funded strategy, it will change the conception we, mobile networks or phone manufacturers have on phones. Google's implementation in the mobile business has been slow but steady and the success of the Google Maps app for iPhone for exemple is a simple proof of that.

For the full ABI Research "Smartphone and OS Markets", click here.

Find your way with Android

After a very detailed post on search in Android, David Convey, product manager, just posted more details on the official Google mobile blog about the Google Maps app for Android.

Besides already detailing what we all already know, it is interesting to see a recurrent theme in each of these posts. The developers are very adamant to remind us two main things:

- There will be strong interactions between apps so that in only a few clicks, you can perform several actions. The example taken here is that once you have received a mail or a text message with a location, click on it and it will show in Maps where you can find your way and have directions to go there. If that location comes with a number, click on it to instantly make a call. There's nothing new and many phones can actually do similar things but it's reassuring to see that for a first phone, it's working very well

- What's more interesting though is the openness of the platform and Google have been insisting on this for a long time. But it's coming to life and in this case, for example, any developers will be able to use the MapView or Location APIs to implement them in their own apps. This particular point is Android's biggest strength. It offers an easy and free environment for developers to create their apps. There were also recent rumours that some developers who planned to develop their apps for the iPhone have given up to turn to Android. At the moment, the App Store is a definite success with over 3,000 apps (mostly games) available and have topped 100 million downloads since July. But would it be a surprise if the Android Market reach those numbers? Surely not.

Coming to the Google Maps app, you can check out the video below. It will show all the different features we have come to know very well: location, map, satellite and street view with compass mode and search.

Related articles

• Report: iPhone 2.2 getting Google's Street View
• Google Opens Location-Aware Application to 3rd Party Developers