High Tech Computer Corp.’s new mobile phone, the Dream, which is the first ever to use Google Inc.’s Android mobile phone software, will apparently retail for $199, through a deal with carrier T-Mobile. The official announcement is expected to arrive during a conference scheduled for September 23. There will be available several new data plans, meant to please all the interested clients.
The plan is to take the offer to the mainstream market, rather than offer the device strictly for the gadget lovers with significant financial possibilities. The accessible price and data services should attract the public, as the reports and articles released in the past few weeks got people talking about the new phone and the interest shown in the new release is extremely high. The price reflects the market trend set by Apple Inc. and AT&T with the new 3G iPhone earlier this summer. The segment also features less expensive models, such as Sprint Nextel Corp.’s Samsung Instinct, which retails for $129.
Google hopes that the sales of the new phone will attract other manufacturers and carriers to request the Android software. It is indeed a very profitable market, always on the change, always looking for the next big thing and Google is looking to cash in on that potential.
The phone will provide similar functions and features to the iPhone and Research in Motion’s BlackBerry, with a large touch-screen, a navigation track-ball and a full keyboard. The device is reportedly 5” long and 3” wide. The biggest difference should be provided by Google’s operating system, which is presented as the next level when it comes to Web browsing, offering various applications which include a search option and Google Maps. Some say that there will be no multi-touch capability and the first version of Android will not support Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Unfortunately there are very few details available about the phone and information such as the battery life and other functions are yet to be announced.
Carriers such as China Mobile and Sprint announced their intentions to develop mobile phones based on the Android platform, but the integration process needed for Google’s services demands a lot of work. The new platform is expected to have a significant influence on the future development of the smartphone segment, with Google looking to live up to its name and meet the public’s high expectancies. Also, being its first effort in this direction, it should deliver a high quality product that would establish its name in the mobile market.
According to a report presented by the Wall Street Journal, HTC expects a huge demand for the device, hoping to ship out more than 600,000 units by the end of the year. The phone’s biggest asset is without a doubt Google’s logo and participation in the project. Weather it will be enough to reach the expected sales figures remains to be seen. The official presentation is just five days away and during the New York event all the questions regarding the smartphone will be answered.