HTC, T-Mobile and Google Announce the Android G1

Overview

The phone named G1 is manufactured by HTC. It has different good features like a huge 5 x 3 display screen, a QWERTY keyboard exposed through a sidekick style sliding display a BlackBerry-like trackball, 3G data access, GPS and Wi-Fi.

The handset will be sold for a low price of $150.The Android Market reportedly will be entirely open and any developer can upload applications for people to use. It remains to be seen whether this smartphone can live-up to the hype.

10 Things to Know about Android G1

What exactly is Android?

Without getting too geeky, Android is the name for Google's mobile device platform. Made up of an operating system, middleware (software that helps applications and networks to communicate) and key applications, Android is up against the big-hitters of mobile OS: Windows Mobile, Symbian and, of course, Apple's iPhone.

So what's different about it?

Android has got tech-heads worldwide hot under the collar because of its open source credentials. It's the brainchild of the Google-led Open Handset Alliance, made up of global mobile and technology industry leaders, which aims to improve the mobile user experience. Developers are free to come up with applications using the Android Software Development Kit.

App Store v Android Market – who's the daddy?

Like Apple's App Store, third-party Android apps will be available through the Android Market. But the big difference is that developers are afforded far more freedom, as Google will not be policing the Android Market with the same vigour Apple applies to its App Store. With no approval required from on high, the way is clear for some truly innovative apps.

What kind of applications will I be able to get?

It goes without saying that Android offers instant access to Google apps like Google Mail, Google Talk, Calendar, YouTube and Maps. But a number of other nifty apps are already touting for business, including a barcode reader that uses the phone's camera to read product barcodes before finding the cheapest price online. Just a hint of things to come…

And what about music?

Google will be attracting some sideways glances from Apple, as it has secured a deal with Amazon.com to include a customised version of its MP3 Store with the Android device. Users will have access to Amazon's six-million catalogue of DRM-free tracks and be able to purchase and download over Wi-Fi. Currently a US-only service, there are rumours of a UK Amazon MP3 Store launch by the end of the year.