T-Mobile G1 in October

T-Mobile's G1 Android phone could be released earlier than expected, says a source for the Wall Street Journal. Echoing previous leaks that point to a September 23rd announcement for the phone co-developed with Google, the newspaper's alleged insider also claims that the G1 will launch earlier than the widely predicted November timeframe and could be in stores as quickly as late October. Pricing wasn't confirmed by the source but in earlier leaks has been set as low as $150 for some buyers.

Additional information from the paper also suggests high hopes from HTC. A further tip from an unnamed source claims that the smartphone maker, which is producing the G1 for T-Mobile, plans to ship between 600,000 to 700,000 of the devices in the roughly two months between launch and the end of the year. The figure would be relatively high for the fourth-place US carrier and would also crest above earlier estimates that would have HTC shipping under 520,000 units.

The G1 is regarded as a "halo" device for T-Mobile both by the company and observers, many of whom see it as the provider's best opportunity to compete against AT&T's exclusive iPhone deal. Supporters are said to expect the pioneering Android phone to draw customers from rival carriers for its features, which include both Google's own services as well as the largely unrestricted Android Market.

By Electronista Staff