The only thing holding back the launch of the first Android-powered phone, the HTC Dream, was approval from the Federal Communications Commission. That approval has now come through, and T-Mobile can launch the phone. The filing asks for a November 10 release date, but (as Matt Marshall at VentureBeat points out) T-Mobile could launch it earlier.
This means that Android will be on track to debut before the holiday shopping season. The device is expected to have a touch screen, WiFi, a “jogball” (like on a Blackberry), a full Web browser based on the same WebKit as Safari on the iPhone, and Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. It should be fab.
But don’t expect it to catch up to the iPhone anytime soon. At least Android will finally be in the game, though, and the other Android phone manufacturers and carriers will be able to learn from any missteps that the HTC Dream makes. On the other hand, if the Dream lives up to its name other Android partners might hurry up and launch their devices as well.
Update: There are also some signs that Google may be getting ready to release an updated software development kit so that apps can actually be made for the device. (That would be a good idea).
Eagerly waiting for HTC Dream…
Now I’m pissed I bought the HTC Touch. I can’t even watch You Tube on it. Or login to java based websites, like Netsuite.
Really? That’s odd. I guess I’ll inform my friend regarding the HTC Dream (as it might be the next best thing to an iPhone).
I’m sure there will be bugs – but I’m looking forward to an “open” phone.
What will be Google’s special sauce for Android? Will they launch some gee whiz new set of apps / features / dev platforms / games / integrated invisibility cloak & EMP generator ?
Integration with gCal, gMail, gChat out of the box – plus really cool gmap app with support for streetview.
That is a must, and it would be really cool. If anyone is listening out there, a twitter app at launch would be nice as well.
“That is a must, and it would be really cool.”
Sorry, that did not make sense. Too many thoughts at once.
streetview is a waste of bandwidth.
Are users going to be able to upgrade the firmware as new features become available? Who manages that? HTC? The operator? Google?
“…The only thing holding back the launch of the first Android-powered phone, the HTC Dream, was approval from the Federal Communications Commission.”
Well that and the fact the T-Mobile still, to this day, doesn’t have a 3G network in all the major American markets.
Worse? T-Mobile will have to build their own forked version of Android, not using the Apache license, in order to stop us from installing Skype and using it with the SIM.
What will be the network licence ? The cost of use. Iphone taught us Europeans (in Belgium though, ) that the licence is a more important issue for buying a handset than the Software (Android) or Appliance is. Is T mobile a network provider too ?
In the NY Apple Store I was told last month that I could not buy an Iphone in the US without a Service Provider. I argumented that I would like to take the Iphone home to Europe, and since the network service they could offer me in the US did not covered Europe , I wouldn’t be able to use the Iphone ? Why the need to buy the US service then.
This Apple logic confuses my thoughts. Will the Android make any difference ?
I have an iPhone, but I think it’s great the competition is heating things up. This just means more innovation and better devices for the end user.
Wow, all this hype from Google and HTC is the one making the margins.
Anyone know what browser it is running? Does it support flash?
It uses webkit, so same core as Safari. they might let it support flash though.
What happened? 18 comments in 3 hours. Google/HTC PR really sucked.
Looking forward to buying a gPhone
Let’s see what happens once the phone comes out and how people like it then. With the rumors having been spread for so long, people’s hopes may be set too high.
http://kreuzer3...-android-phone/
so great, eager to wait for HTC dream. It will be an another great phone to compete with iphone and blackberry.
http://tmobilehtcdream.com