It is already a very well known fact that T-Mobile G1 is the first smart phone based on Google's Android mobile operating system. The G1, the first phone to run the Android software developed by Google, goes on sale October 22 for $179 at T-Mobile shops and many people are getting their first in-depth look at it because T-Mobile has loaned the devices to reporters. However T-Mobile allows you to unlock the G1 after 90 days and use it on another carrier's network if you pay their substantial early termination fee.

First of all, the official launch of the Android comes at a time when T-Mobile, the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier in terms of subscribers, is strongly developing its 3G wireless broadband services. This deployment is important as the firm rolls out its greatly anticipated G1 Android phone, which will need the high-speed data service to fully take advantage of all the Internet features of the phone.

What Google's Android mobile phone platform has is the existence of a so-called "kill switch," an option Google retains to remotely disable any Android application on a phone at its own discretion. "We're not too concerned. We're not making malicious apps. It should be fine and I totally understand why they'd want to do it," said Jeff Kao, co-founder of Ecorio, a Toronto-based developer. Having developed the application specifically for Android, Kao said he understands how someone could create a program to do things which users wouldn't particularly care for, and why Google needs to guard against that.

The G1 is getting praise for its customization options, full QWERTY keypad, and overall ease of use. The lack of a standard headphone jack, video camera, and Exchange synchronization are among the main complaints. The Exchange synchronization, Google has said will likely become available via a third-party app before long.

Unlike the iPhone, the G1 offers copy and paste of text, and the ability to send photos directly to other phones without relying on email; it is easier to make a phone call on the G1 than on the iPhone. You can just start typing a number randomly from the home screen. There's also a virtual phone keyboard so you don't have to use the physical one. It also offers more flexibility in organizing your desktop than on the iPhone, the touch interface is fast and smooth. Programs pop up when you drag up a tab at the bottom of the screen. New messages notifications can be seen by dragging down the top bar of the screen.

The New York Times’ David Pogue described the handset's Android platform as "polished enough to give Windows Mobile an inferiority complex the size of Australia." Avi Greengart, mobile device research director at Current Analysis n the other hand, doesn’t seem to be on the verge of becoming a fan, calling it an iPhone "challenger" that "falls short in every area." Greengart wasn't impressed with the G1's girth, describing it as "heavier and bulkier" than the iPhone. He also noted that the G1 offers no easy way to sync with non-Google mail applications, such as Microsoft Outlook.

So it’s all up to cool applications in order to hit the bull’s eye with the Android.