Not Quite a Robot, It's T-Mobile's G1 Android

September 2008 marked the introduction of the T-Mobile G1 Android, Google’s answer to the I-Phone. T-Mobile is the first cell network carrier to offer Google’s Android-powered cell phone. The Android is available only to T-Mobile customers across 2 continents.

Google users, and who these days isn’t, will be glad to see all the Google incorporated tools that the Android offers, including Google Maps Street View, Gmail, and YouTube just to name a few. Customers can access the Android Market and find applications suited to their lifestyle and needs.

Cell phone communication no longer means just a phone call, more and more staying connected with work and family means being able to access email and the Internet. This is T-Mobiles opportunity to get on the wagon with Apple.

The Android offers one touch access to Google’s search function and a full QWERTY keyboard for email and instant messaging. In addition, there is a trackball for navigating with one hand.

Fun and Functional

Using the one-touch Google search, customers can see web pages the way they were intended to be seen, in full view, not snippets. Users can then tap any area of the screen to automatically zoom in on that area. Now you can keep up with the office or your friends on MySpace with the touch of a button.

Google Maps Street View is Google’s mapping service and satellite imagery. You can find businesses, addressees, get driving directions and virtually walk around places as if you were standing on the actual street – complete with 360° viewing capabilities.

Not just a phone for communication purposes, the Android offers access to your email, both Gmail and other POP3 or IMAP services. This device is not one-minded; you can download your email while you search the web or other functions. You can also IM with Google Talk or other popular messenger services.

Other notable features include:

• 3 Megapixel camera with photo sharing
• 3G support
• WiFi
• GPS
• Blue-Tooth
• Micro-SD Expansion Slot
• Built-in YouTube support
• Speakerphone, voice dialing, conference calling and speed dial
• Amazon MP3 application – preloaded for sampling, searching and buying music.
• Access to the Android Market – applications and services available for the Android phone from games, to shopping to social network sites. Android has created some unique applications such as ShopSavvy which does comparison pricing using bar codes uploaded via the built in camera and BreadCrumbs which will allow users to create a photo-tagged map of where they have been.

Google first venture into the cell phone/Internet access world with T-Mobiles G1 Android appears to be a success. Future versions are bound to incorporate more Google applications and functions. The G1 Android proves there’s room for more than one apple in the cart.