World's First Android Powered Phone Revealed

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T-Mobile has today announced the international launch of the first Android powered cellphone in the world.

It is available 'soon' say T-Mobile, for customers in both the USA and Europe. The T-Mobile G1, as it is called, will feature full touch-screen functionality a combined with a QWERTY keyboard and the familiar Google experience thrown in. Most importantly though, it is the first to be driven by that Google Android OS and enable access to the Android Market, an Apple App Store alike site for downloading applications to the handset.

With one-click contextual search, T-Mobile G1 customers in a flash can search for relevant information with a touch of a finger. A full HTML Web browser allows users to see any Web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on the screen. With built-in support for T-Mobile's 3G and EDGE network as well as Wi-Fi, the T-Mobile G1 can connect to the best available high-speed data connection for surfing the Web and downloading information quickly and effortlessly.

T-Mobile customers in the U.S. can, from today, pre-order the G1 although quantities are said to be limited. It will also be available for over the counter sales in T-Mobile stores stateside from October 22nd.

Pricing has been confirmed at $179 with a two-year voice and data agreement.

As far as Europe is concerned, the T-Mobile G1 will become available beginning in November, and across Europe in the first quarter of 2009.

"We are proud that T-Mobile is the first operator in the world to launch an Android-powered mobile device" said Christopher Schlaffer, Group Product and Innovation Officer of Deutsche Telekom. "Since 2005, Google has been an established partner in T-Mobile's groundbreaking approach to bringing the open mobile Internet to the mass market. With the T-Mobile G1 we are continuing our strong tradition of being pioneers in the world of the open Internet."

"Increasingly, connectivity does not just mean a phone call, but rather access to the world's information," said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google. "Today's news signifies an important first step for the Open Handset Alliance: with Android, we've opened the mobile web not only for millions of users, but also to mobilize the developer community that understands the next most important platform in the world rests in the palm of our hand."

Dani AI

Generated

Good scoop, . For anyone reading this thread later and thinking about picking up one of the early Android handsets, a few practical notes that don’t duplicate the launch specs: early devices and first-generation software often leave gaps in areas people care about (battery life, sync behavior, carrier features). Before buying, check how the carrier handles data caps, parental controls, returns/warranty and whether the phone will meet the specific needs you already have (email sync, calendar, tethering).

To : yes — a smartphone can make it much easier for a child to use up credit if left unchecked. Simple, effective steps to limit that risk:

  • Prefer Wi‑Fi for large downloads and streaming; turn off mobile data when Wi‑Fi is available.
  • Use the carrier’s usage alerts or caps and enable any spending limits or parental controls they offer.
  • Remove saved payment methods from the account or use prepaid/top‑up only.
  • Disable background sync for nonessential apps and require permission before installing or updating apps (where the OS/carrier allows).
  • Teach a basic “ask first” rule and monitor usage for the first few weeks so unexpected bills don’t appear.

Few extra tips for early adopters: back up contacts and important data to the cloud before experimenting; test battery and data use for a couple of days; keep firmware/software updated and read release notes; and use carrier/manufacturer support forums (and developer forums) if you hit odd behavior. These steps cut the chances of surprise bills and make the transition to a new platform much smoother.

Member Avatar for Diguelo
Diguelo 0 Newbie Poster

Awesome, does that mean my daughter will be able to use up her phone credit even faster now. lol

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