2008

Google's Web-surfing phone a powerful messaging device. But does it make calls?

Posted by Eric Benderoff at 11:23 a.m.
Google and two other companies showed off the first version of a next-generation mobile phone that focuses more on how people can interact with an Internet-enabled device than how they make phone calls.
In fact, during a presentation Tuesday morning in New York, never once did a participant from Google, T-Mobile or HTC, which makes the phone, show how a user would make a call. But they made it clear that the T-Mobile G1 (left) was far more powerful than something for making calls. It’s a device tied into software rich with maps, messaging, games and a host of items for maintaining a connection to the Web no matter where you are.
The T-Mobile G1 will cost $179 with a two-year voice and data contract. It will be available on Oct. 22.
The phone appeared handsome, and is operated by a touch screen and a slide-out Qwerty keypad. It runs on a software platform that Google developed, called Android.
The phone has several features that should appeal to people who want to be connected at all times. It will work with several Internet-based e-mail clients, but it is optimized for Google’s Gmail.
“It syncs very well with Google products,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google.
Other Google products include Google Maps with Street View, so users can get street-level views to pinpoint landmarks of where they are going. It also supports Google Talk, an instant messaging service for Gmail, as well as IM services from AOL, Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger.
But, at this point, it does not support Microsoft’s Exchange software for office-based applications. “We believe that will be an opportunity for third-party developers,” said Cole Brodman, T-Mobile’s chief technology officer.
Like Apple’s iPhone, the T-Mobile G1 will provide a platform for third-party applications. It’s called the Android Market—even though Google co-founder Sergey Brin referred to it as the “App Store” during his brief appearance—and users will be able to download a host of programs.
One such program displayed Tuesday morning was ShopSavvy, which integrates the phone’s 3-megapixel camera to take pictures of bar codes for comparison shopping. Users can use that code to see what prices for a particular item across the Web.
Another cool feature is integration with Amazon’s MP3 store, where shoppers can download music directly to the phone.