Mobiles2day – Mobile Industry News

T-Mobile branded version of HTC Hero will be on sale tomorrow from T-Mobile UK website. This is T-Mobile’s second Android phone, hence the name, G2. T-Mobile G2 will be available in stores few days after online launch.

Here is a quick spec list:

Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7200A^TM, 528 MHz
Operating System: Android^TM
Memory ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 288 MB
Dimensions (LxWxT) 112 x 56.2 x 14.35 mm ( 4.41 x 2.21 x 0.57 inches)
Weight 135 grams ( 4.76 ounces) with battery
Display 3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution
Network HSPA/WCDMA:

* 900/2100 MHz
* Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

* 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)
Device Control Trackball with Enter button
GPS Internal GPS antenna
Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB^TM (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)
3.5 mm audio jack
Camera 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus
Audio supported formats MP3, AAC(AAC, AAC+, AAC-LC), AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI and Windows Media® Audio 9
Video supported formats MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 and Windows Media® Video 9
Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1350 mAh
Talk time:

* Up to 420 minutes for WCDMA
* Up to 470 minutes for GSM

Standby time:

* Up to 750 hours for WCDMA
* Up to 440 hours for GSM

(The above are subject to network and phone usage.)
Expansion Slot microSD^TM memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A
Special Features G-sensor
Digital Compass

According to Andy Rubin, senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google, we will see at least 18 phones powered by Android operating system before Christmas 2009.

There are already 2 phones being sold which run on Android operating system: T-Mobile’s G1 and Vodafone’s Magic. Both devices made by HTC. Mr. Rubin did not mention which manufacturers will bring new devices to the market but it seems that they will appear in Europe first.

Indeed, the ramp-up of Android phones intensifies a battle among some of the world’s biggest software companies to create the operating system for the world’s phones (of which there are now 4 billion). Android goes up against a coming-soon new version of Microsoft’s mobile version of Windows (Windows Mobile 7), Apple’s proprietary iPhone system, the Blackberry platform, a new Palm OS for its Pre called WebOS, Symbian (mostly proferred by Nokia) and a host of Linux-based systems.

On the question of apps, Mr. Rubin reinforced Google’s position that Android is an “open” platform, though, critically, that concept has some nuance to it. It goes like this: there are three flavors of Android. Each is free. But the versions place different requirements on the handset manufacturers and wireless carriers. The differing versions – and the way they’re being adopted – gives an insight both into Google’s goals and to the way the market is receiving those goals.

1. The obligation-free option: device manufacturers can download a free version of Android, load onto their devices and provide access to as many or as few apps as they want. But the manufacturers cannot preload popular Google applications, like Gmail or Google calendar.

2. The small strings option: Same as Option 1, except that manufacturers sign a distribution agreement to include on the phone Google applications. Of the 18 to 20 phones coming out this year, Mr. Rubin said, 12 to 14 subscribe to this option.

3. The bigger strings option or the no-censorship version: These phones Google calls “The Google Experience.” They are physically distinguishable by the “Google” logo on the phone. They include a range of Google applications that the carrier and handset maker agree not to remove from the phone. The carrier and handset maker also agree not to censor access to the Android market. Meaning: if some developer comes up with an application that some people find distasteful, or that gets bad press, it must nevertheless remain available to consumers. Of the phones coming out this year, 5 to 6 belong to this category, Mr. Rubin said.

The third category provides risk and reward opportunities. The openness of the store could be a hit with consumers, but could also lead to poorly constructed applications or ones, like the baby shaking app for the iPhone, that could give Google a taint (however temporary and press driven).

When it comes to apps, Mr. Rubin said: “We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.”

Source: NY Times

G1 users in UK will finally get Android’s 1.5 update codenamed Cupcake in May 2009.

T-Mobile confirmed that it will be issuing the Cupcake update over the air. As many owners eager to get the update will already know, among other things, Cupcake will bring a full touchscreen keyboard and video capture with the phone’s camera.

The update is “live” now, and will be a phased roll-out, so the May timescale quoted is when all G1 owners should get the refresh by, but presumably could be from now on.

Update is about 44MB in size. It includes important additions such as virtual keyboard, which would be absolutely necessary for new Android driven handsets which do not have hardware keyboard. Vodafone has started selling second Android phone Magic, which is full touch screen phone.

We have blogged previously that second Android powered phone HTC Magic, also known as G2 will be offered exclusively by Vodafone in UK. Vodafone’s website now have release date for this handset:

Phone is said to be available from April. See below summary of this phone’s features:

Processor: Qualcomm® MSM7201a^TM, 528 MHz
Operating System: Android
Memory ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 192 MB
Dimensions: 113 x 55 x 13.65 mm ( 4.45 x 2.17 x 0.54 inches)
Weight: 118.5 grams ( 4.18 ounces) with battery
Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution
Network: HSDPA/WCDMA:

*900/2100 MHz
*Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

*850/900/1800/1900 MHz

(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)
Device Control: Trackball with Enter button
GPS: Internal GPS antenna
Connectivity: Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
Camera: 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus
Audio supported formats:  AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC-LC, MIDI, OGG
Video supported formats: MP4, 3GP
Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1340 mAh
Talk time:

*Up to 400 minutes for WCDMA
*Up to 450 minutes for GSM

Standby time:

*Up to 660 hours for WCDMA
*Up to 420 hours for GSM

(The above are subject to network and phone usage.)
Expansion Slot: microSD^TM memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Special Features: G-sensor, Digital Compass

According to telegraph.co.uk british mobile giant Vodafone will be carrying exclusive on next HTC-made Android powered handset, named G2.

First generation G1 phones were sold exclusively by T-Mobile in UK and so far failed to attract large number of customers.

The second generation Google phone, apparently called the HTC Magic, reportedly boasts a 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi, and a built-in GPS receiver, which already present in G1.

Other handset manufacturers are rumoured to be working on their own Android driven handset, but we have not heard any firm dates on releases so far. Android presense on Mobile World Congress this week has been weak as well.

Samsung had been expected to launch an Android-based phone in Barcelona this week, but executives have conceded that the phone will be delayed until later this year.

The exclusive deal to supply the G2 will provide a significant boost to Vodafone as it battles Apple’s dominance of the smartphone market.