LIVE: T-Mobile's Android phone event [U]
updated 11:20 am EDT, Tue September 23, 2008
Live T-Mobile G1 Event
Electronista has followed T-Mobile's G1 announcement live and provided live updates regarding the New York City event as they happened. News appears in reverse order as it became available, after the story break. Amazon today has already confirmed a mobile Amazon MP3 store for the device. T-Mobile's official announcement has been posted and confirms the device available for $179 on a two-year voice and data contract when it ships October 22nd.
Left to right: Sergey Brin, Google; Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) representative; Peter Chou, HTC
11:20AM -- Event is over with Q&A going on downstairs.
11:12AM -- Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin take the stage and are "excited" about the phone and how quickly it can perform searches; closer to a computer than a mobile device.
11:09AM -- Only supports unprotected media, including AAC, MP3. iTunes music will only work if it's unprotected (iTunes Plus, for example). UMTS is supported worldwide.
11:05AM -- Ads start in October; it's the largest campaign T-Mobile has ever held for any one device.
11:02AM -- Voice and data are required together. Currently no Exchange compatibility, but an opening for developers to add a component. Office support is also up in the air. E-mail supports POP and IMAP but isn't traditionally push. No bundled sync software.
10:58AM -- Confirming pricing; existing customers can pre-order the G1 and have it shipped by the time it reaches retail stores on October 22. Two data plans are available: $25 unlimited web and Internet, $35 adds unlimited messaging.
10:54AM -- Developers talking about the accessibility and strength of Android as a platform.
10:48AM -- Includes an Amazon MP3 store portal, dedicated media player, contacts, and a unique Compass view in Google Maps that follows the user in Street View (also new to phones) as they themselves turn.
10:42AM -- US has an "appetite" for data use; home broadband reaches far, but mobile Internet hasn't been very compelling until now. Open systems and standards are essential to spurring growth.
10:37AM -- T-Mobile has issued a press release; the G1 will sell for $179 on contract with voice and data and ships in November.
10:35AM -- T-Mobile wants to move away from a "walled garden" approach to the mobile Internet; it's managed to jump its revenues without having to depend on SMS and other traditional services.
10:33AM -- G1 is an exclusive; will ship both for T-Mobile Germany and USA at the "end of this year."
10:30AM -- T-Mobile takes the stage.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
Great!
This will either make the iPhone better, or fizzle. My guess is it will fizzle quickly.