Will It Be Phoogle or Maybe “The Gone”
 | by Drew on September 17th, 2008 |
So be it with the cell phone industry. Just as our hopes were dashed by the proprietary partnership of Apple and AT&T, T-Mobile has now announced their latest ‘partnership’ with Google announcing yesterday the details of the first and highly anticipated mobile phone based on Google’s Android software. Full details and perhaps a prototype will be shown on Sept. 23 at a press conference in New York.
The phone itself, which is being manufactured by HTC, is not likely to be available until November. However, top executives from Google, T-Mobile and other companies (who else could be on this deal of the decade?) are expected to unveil details about the phone’s release date, pricing, plans and software at the press conference.
The phone is expected to become a challenger to other “all in one devices” like Apple’s iPhone and the BlackBerry. Other manufacturers and cellphone carriers are expected to introduce Android-based phones in the coming months. This means YOU, Verizon. Come on. Give us something to brag about.
Google is promoting Android phones as a way to ensure that its services, as well as other services that may use its advertising system, are available on a broad range of mobile phones. But Google also stands to benefit from the popularity of devices like the iPhone, whose PC-like Internet browser has greatly increased the likelihood that its owners will conduct Web searches on their phones.
Mark my words though. The price point is going to make all the difference.