Google’s New Grooves: The Search Giant Enters the Cell phone Biz
James Finley
The News
• Yesterday Google/T-Mobile announces the joint release of the G1
• The new Google phone will run on T-Mobile service
• Uses the Android operating system• Public release date set for Oct. 13th -22nd
Reports vary on release date
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE:
Welcome the OHA
• Open Handset Alliance• Developers of the Android Program• ChinaMobile, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm,
T-Mobile, Telefonica, LG, and Ebay• Program will become part of the future “HTC
Dream” product
The G1 takes the Stage• 3.2 in display (320 x 480 HVGA)• Touch screen and trackball navigation• Full QWERTY keyboard• Dual band UMTS and HSPA• GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band• Wi-fi and Bluetooth enabled• GPS • 3.2 mega pixel fixed focused camera• Micro SD slot (w/ 1gb card) support up to
8gb
Additional Features• Include high-speed internet browsing that
rivals laptop browsing speed.
• Photo sharing and publishing
• Instant Messaging
• Comes loaded with G mail and G maps
• YouTube accessibility
• Also syncs with AOL, Yahoo, and MS mail
Service
• Cost: $399 or $179 w/ 2 year contract*
• $35 for unlimited data and messaging
• $10/mo. VoIP service
• Automatic switching between call network and Wi-Fi for faster speed and coverage
So What’s Android anyway?
• Open source operating system– Amend, improve, and customize– Write new programs for OS
• Linux based operating system • Break the mold concern which apps
work on which devices / OS / phones
What Else?• Amazon’s MP3 music store is directly
linked to G1• Non DRM-music can be uploaded• Android programs can be downloaded (for
free?) from the Market– WikiTude, Cab4Me, GoCart
• Will come with a “lite” version of Chrome
Oh No you Didn’t!• Current T-Mobile customer based (31.5 mil.) can’t
hack it• Far behind competitors in service size. Currently
trying to improve from 2 to 25 cities by year’s end• 3G data plan may be expensive and include
hidden costs• Android will have difficulty unseating Apple and In
Motion Ltd. (Blackberry) with 2/3 of the “Smart” market: Says IDC, a mobile device research company)
YouTube: A first look at the Google Phone
Bloomberg.com Worldwide
•First 'Google phone' unveiled by T-Mobile - Yahoo! News
•Google Phone
•Live blog First Google Android phone is unveiled News - Wireless - CNET News
•YouTube - Android Demo
RESOURCES
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