HTC Dream Google G1 Smartphone from T-Mobile

Google G1 Phone The Google G1 was the first Android compatible smartphone and was produced by well known handset manufacturer HTC. The phone was launched as a T-Mobile exclusive in 2008. Response to the Google phone has been fairly mixed. From a looks point of view, the G1 was never going to win any awards with its relatively chunky body (thanks to a 5 row QWERTY keyboard) and quirky ‘chin' which you either love or hate. That said, the physical keyboard is ideal for those of you who still haven't gotten used to touchscreen keyboards and may be worth the extra weight.

From a technical perspective, the phone comes with everything we've come to expect from HTC devices including 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support together with a passable 3.2 Megapixel camera and GPS. Being a Google-branded device, integration with all of the Google applications (search, mail, talk, calendar, maps etc.) is seamless and intuitive as is the rest of the Android UI. The phone ships with a 1150mAh Lithium-ion battery and is quoted as having up to 406 minutes of talk time on GSM although reviews seem to indicate that battery life is nowhere near as good as it should be. Extended 2200mAh batteries are now becoming available and are highly recommended for heavy users.

Overall of the Google G1 is a nice phone that handles adequately. It may not have the wow-factor visually or even technically but as a first mover it is a good example of the potential of Android-powered smartphones. Now bring on the G2.

Processor	Qualcomm MSM7201A, 528 MHz
Memory	ROM: 256 MB RAM: 192 MB
Expansion Slot	microSD memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Display	3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320 x 480 (HVGA) resolution
Device Control	Trackball with Enter button Slide-out 5-row QWERTY keyboard Touch-sensitive screen
Camera	3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus
Multimedia	Built-in microphone and speaker Ring tone formats: AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MIDI, MP3, WMA, WMV 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
Network	HSPA/WCDMA: 2100 MHz Up to 7.2 Mbps down-link (HSDPA) and 2 Mbps up-link (HSUPA) speeds Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz (Band frequency, HSUPA availability, and data speed are operator dependent.)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)
GPS	GPS navigation capability with Google Maps
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery Capacity: 1150 mAh Talk time: Up to 350 minutes for WCDMA Up to 406 minutes for GSM Standby time: Up to 402 hours for WCDMA Up to 319 hours for GSM (The above are subject to network and phone usage.)
Dimensions (LxWxT)	117.7 mm x 55.7 mm x 17.1 mm (4.60 in x 2.16 in x 0.62 in)
Weight	158 grams (5.60 ounces) with battery
Special Features	Digital Compass, Motion Sensor

Specifications are correct according manufacturer website at time of writing.

(4/5) Excellent Google Smart Phone
by Riyad Kalla (December 30, 2008)

The T-Mobile G1 is an excellent "first-mover" Android-based phone from T-Mobile and is truly a "Google Phone". If you are already have most of your life on Google through one of their many handy and free services (Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Talk, Picasaweb, etc.) the G1 is going to be a dream device for you. If you don't make use of the Gmail services or have most of your life scattered across many different services, the G1 will be an OK phone for you, but we'd suggest also looking at a BlackBerry or iPhone as well as there are some things those phones do better than the G1. [ Read full review ]

(3/5) Great Software, OK Hardware
by N Chamoun (January 19, 2009)

I've had the G1 since release day. I have enjoyed the software very much, there are many useful things such as the notification bar that notifies you on any time you get a new text, voice mail, missed call, well you get the point. The included applications are very good, they are useful and well made. The market lacks substantially to Apple's app store, but it is free and it gives anybody the opportunity to develop for the phone, some apps are good and some are horrendous, but the good thing is they are all free. The hardware is fine. [ Read full review ]

Read more reviews from Amazon

One of the most exciting developments in the mobile world in recent memory
from engadget (October 16, 2008)

The G1 isn't going to blow anyone's mind right out of the gate. Looking only at the hardware, there's nothing here that's particularly impressive, yet nothing that's particularly bad (though the GPS needs some work). It's a fine, solidly designed device that has enough style to please most users -- but it won't win a ton of beauty pageants. Think of it this way: if it were running Windows Mobile, it'd be a footnote in HTC's history. At the end of the day, however, this isn't about the hardware, and really never was. The story here is Android and what it promises... though doesn't necessarily deliver on at first. Like any paradigm shift, it's going to take time. [ Read full review ]

(7/10) For a first attempt, Google has exceeded some of our expectations
from CNET UK (October 16, 2008)

While we're not in love with the design and would have liked some additional features, the real beauty of the T-Mobile G1 is the Google Android platform, as it has the potential to make smart phones more personal and powerful. That said, it's not quite there yet, so for now, the G1 is best suited for early adopters and gadget hounds, rather than consumers and business users. [ Read full review ]

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HTC Dream Google G1 Smartphone from T-Mobile

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