 About a year ago, there were rumors that Google was working on a mobile device of its own- the so-called GPhone. When it scrapped plans for the device, Google began to focus more on developing an open source handset alliance- Android- for cell phone companies to implement in their own prototypes. On Monday, AFP reported that the fourth-leading mobile carrier in the U.S., T-Mobile, will be the first company to sell a handheld cellular device running on Google’s Android. AFP— and assuredly marketers and analysts— contend that this new phone, manufactured by HTC, will pose a “direct threat to Apple's popular iPhone.” T-Mobile is the numero uno mobile carrier in Germany, so this is big news across the Atlantic. Despite this, Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile's German parent has not released any information on the launch date of the device. However, according to the New York Times, the phone may hit shelves as early as October (but likely by Christmas at the latest). AFP wrote briefly on the design of the phone; like its competition, the iPhone, it will allegedly have a touch screen and Internet access. An edgy addition may be the screen, which “slides out to expose a full five-row keyboard.” Will this chic new handset really rival the iPhone? Or is this just another case of inflated competition? Sorry folks, looks like we’ll have to wait until the chilly weather rolls around to find out. |
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