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