T-Mobile G1 is here and the G1 Rap Song!

No doubt you've received some emails today as well announcing the G1 is now available from t-mobile... looking forward to hearing what people have to say about this one... i decided to sit this one out as R 1.0.0 devices scare me a bit!





Video from Phandroid - http://phandroid.com

More on the Google (Android) G1 via the T-mobile update

The latest T-Mobile customer newsletter is promoting what else??? the G1 naturally! IT's really too bad that most of the service attendants in the wonderful T-mobile shops are pretty much clueless about the device... but they do proudly comment "well... it's has Google search and maps".. ya that's useful!! For kicks I always like to ask them a couple of questions about Android and watch as their face contorts into a confused state... ;0) Regardless, the G1 from HTC is indeed an interesting device. I'm on the fence as to whether I really want to extend my contract for yet another 2 years for a device that is essentially release 1.0.0.0 - I was really close but I think I've decided that I may wait it out a bit!

See more at http://www.t-mobileg1.com/ or jump to our dedicated Google Android section on the LBSzone

Finally, it's official The Google Android G1 device

Today T-mobile made it offical, the company will be distributing the first Google Android mobile device - the G1 (from HTC). Some details... an open-source mobile platform led by Google. T-Mobile G1 is a touch-screen mobile phone that includes a QWERTY keyboard and features applications like Google Maps with StreetView, Gmail and YouTube. The phone will be available in the U.S. beginning Oct. 22 and in the United Kingdom in early November with other international launch dates scheduled throughout 2009. See the official announcement

More info... Based on the Android open source OS, the device sports some amazing functionality including: swipe, touch, embedded google apps (maps, search etc...) fast access to your most heavily-used apps (like YouTube, gmaps), slide-out QWERTY keyboard, drag/drop apps, MP3 player, 3MP camera, WiFi, access to mobile street views with compass mode option (this is way cool!!) amazing apps for carbon footprint detection, bar-code scanning, location services, and much more - this device, available from T-Mobile in the near future (or pre-order online now) will be HUGE! Pricing... $179 + contract (commercial launch Oct 22) - $35 month for unlimited web and messaging. As near as I can tell this device sports most of the functionality that you would want, except for, video capture, Bluetooth, and GPS! I'm still digging up info to determine exactly the full feature specs.

Android, and the prepaid Mobile Model

Will a new business model evolve?? An interesting update on Google Android from PrePaid Earth (Australia). Through Project Android, Google and 30 other technology companies will offer the first complete, open, and free mobile platform aimed at accelerating innovation in mobile. It is aimed at offering consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience, and will change prepaid mobile billing and the way it operates. The prepaid mobile billing mechanism currently accounts for the charging and revenue collection of no less than 45% of all mobile phone calls around the world. In Q4 2008, citizens of the earth will be able to access $50 USD mobile handsets through this open source development which will result in a greater uptake of mobile hardware devices. The increase in mobile handsets will lead to a larger mobile and Internet audience on planet earth which in turn will allow Google to enhance its reputation and revenues as the biggest advertising and content distribution platform in the world. Google will deliver paid advertising to mobile devices globally. Google will in turn provide Android users with subsidized prepaid recharge credits. see more

SiRF Creating Location Awareness on the Android Platform

Finally some news on the Android front from a developer... it's been some time since we've heard anything! This announcement comes from SiRF - SiRF is actively working on the Android platform to include some of the more innovative features of Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), a standards-based protocol that allows a mobile handset client to communicate with a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), including transport layer security (TLS) for location privacy and multiple session capabilities to provide the most compelling user experience. SiRF is also implementing support for Android-based assisted GPS (A-GPS) handsets, including mobile station based (MSB) and mobile station assisted (MSA) positioning methods to facilitate the Android platform passing Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and 3GPP conformance testing for third-party certification. More details here