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Google launches rival to iPhone and Blackberry
Mark Prigg, Technology Correspondent29 Oct 2008
GOOGLE'S first mobile phone will go on sale in Britain tomorrow.
The G1 is aimed squarely at competing with Apple's iPhone and RIM's Blackberry. It will be available exclusively from T-Mobile.
The handset is the first of several expected to use Google's software, called Android. The company hopes that by linking the handset to its email and websearch products, it can drive traffic and lucrative advertising to its site.
Unlike the iPhone, Google has allowed developers to create free software for the handset. Although Apple does let consumers download extra software, it is tightly controlled and many applications must be paid for.
The G1 will be available for free to customers signing up for T-Mobile's £40-and-above tariffs, which include unlimited data for web surfing.
But some analysts claim the phone may struggle to compete with the iPhone. Ernest Doku of mobile phone comparison site Omio.com said: "Despite the popularity of the Google brand, the G1's design lacks the inherent cool factor that made the iPhone 3G such a mass-market success."
He believes Google could tarnish its brand if the phone fails: "The launch of the G1 is important not only because it's Google's first foray into the mobile market, but because it's also the launch of an entirely new mobile phone operating system.
"Android is the equivalent of releasing an alternative to Microsoft's Windows and equally as risky." The phone went on sale in the US last week, and the Evening Standard has tested the American version which is very similar to the British model.
Users navigate either touching the screen or via a small trackpad. Under the screen hides a full qwerty keyboard, which does give it an edge over the iPhone.
But the G1 doesn't have the slickness of its Apple rival.
With Google's might behind it, it's well worth keeping an eye out for future versions but for now, it's really one for internet addicts rather than average consumers.
Reader views (3)
The G1 is already releasing patches here in the US and the G2 most likely will come from Motorola unless ASUS beats them out.
If you want a breadboard to program with or get for novelty of having the first Android phone then get the G1 as the G2 will most likely be more user/consumer friendly.
Also beware of the white G1s as the paint chips which is why it was delayed in the US until mid November, not sure if UK white ones have the paint corrected or not.
- Michael Martin, San Diego, California USA, 29/10/2008 22:21
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This isn't actually Google's phone. G1 is T-Mobile's name for the first Android phone (the new operating system sponsored by Google). So it isn't like the iphone, which belongs to Apple - this is a TIMobile product - make of that ehat yiu will!
- Rob, east london, 29/10/2008 12:40
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Is it called the G1 so that they can rapidly bring out a G2 to correct the faults in the G1?
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 29/10/2008 10:41
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