Mysteries of the Google Phone Revealed

Today's the day that T-Mobile and Google officially unveiled the first cellular handset to use Google's open source Android operating system, and the first item on our checklist of mysteries to be solved is its official name. And it's a clunky one: T-Mobile G1 with Google. It will be available starting October 22 for $179 (with data plan requirement, starting at $25 a month on top of a required voice plan). Top-line tech specs include quad-band GSM, dual-band 3G for access to T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA network (1700/2100 MHz; check this page for coverage, which is still rolling out nationally), Wi-Fi connectivity (8012.11b/g), built-in GPS, 3-megapixel camera, 3-inch touchscreen, microSD memory slot, and Bluetooth for handsfree devices (but not A2DP music streaming, which will come later).

Confirming the leaked photos from last week, the G1 (with Google) hides a QWERTY keyboard under its sliding touchscreen face, and it will come in both black and white. Gizmodo was one of the first up with some hands-on impressions of the handset:

Physically, the flip-out LCD feels solid and springy. Keyboard keys are small and will take some getting used to for someone who's been Multitouching for a while.

The touchscreen is better than we had hoped—far better than the HTC Touch's slow-to-respond screen. Scrolling is smooth at times, clunky at others, depending on the app.

And Stuff.tv just posted a video hands-on tour:

Gizmodo also notes that the G1 offers push Gmail with Google Talk presence (meaning, you'll be able to see chat buddies who are online), but you can only sync to Google contacts and calendar items--no Outlook support. Also, the Google Maps app offers a "street view that you can control using the built-in compass, turning the phone around and looking around like you're actually there." Here's the Google video (with a white-clad spokes-cyclist offered in contrast to Apple's black-turtlenecked talking heads) showcasing the phone's interface and applications:

And of course, Google will be offering a counterbalance to Apple's iPhone App Store with the Android Market, and Giz (once again) offers a preview of its 10 most anticipated applications. One of the bigger surprises of the day came with the announcement that the G1 will come preloaded with an Amazon MP3 Store app. MacUser notes:

As with the iPhone, downloading songs from Amazon MP3 requires a Wi-Fi connection, though you can preview, browse, and even purchase songs over T-Mobile’s cell network (say, it’d be nice if iTunes let you do that).

So, what do you think? Is the design too chunky, or are you won over by the keyboard? Not enough interface with Outlook, or are you already solely syncing to the cloud? Let us know in the comments.

--Agen G.N. Schmitz