The "Google phone" is now coming to the masses

Even though the first incarnation of the Android-enabled phone, the T-Mobile G1 has been available since October 2008, only users who were living in the areas where the carrier supported the 3G protocol were able to go to a store and buy one. The wireless carrier also offered the new mobile phone through online shops, but users could not actually get a hands-on with the device before they bought it.

T-Mobile is addressing this issue, as it officially announced that the G1 Android smartphone would be available through all of its stores and entitled dealers all over the country starting Saturday, January 24. Analysts expect that this decision will turn the “Google phone” into a much more popular device.

At this time, the T-Mobile G1 smartphone has a price tag of $179.99. However, the price is only available with a two-year service subscription at T-Mobile and further discounts of the wireless carrier. The G1 is available in white, black and bronze color, the latter reminding of some of the high-end Sony Vaio ultraportable computers.

When it was released, many people certainly considered T-Mobile G1 the first real iPhone competitor. And there were several reasons to see the G1 like that, as it is the result of a tight collaboration between Google, who initiated the Android platform, HTC, one of the most successful smartphone manufacturers, and T-Mobile, a wireless carrier that successfully operates in a vast number of locations worldwide.

In a nutshell, the T-Mobile G1 mobile phone comes with a 3.2 inches screen, smaller than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch one, but with the same 480 x 320 resolution, the higher pixel density meaning that images will look more crisp. G1 also has a GPS integrated module, an 802.11 b and g wireless card and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR connectivity. The downside of the Bluetooth card on the G1 is the lack of the AD2P protocol, which means that the smartphone doesn’t support stereo Bluetooth headphones.

The G1 is narrower and thicker than the iPhone, but the overall dimensions are pretty much similar. On important thing to mention is that some reviewers pointed out that the quality of the outer plastic shell of the G1 is lower than the iPhone, but still on par with other mainstream smartphones on the market.

Of course, the main selling point of the G1 is its hardware keyboard, which is preferred by most business-oriented users. The slide mechanism that reveals the keyboard is sturdy, featuring a sensor that automatically changes the orientation of the screen to landscape.

The Android operating system delivers mixed experiences, as one should note that it is based on a Linux kernel. This means that the OS makes it for a virtually unlimited number of possible application and interface developments but in the same time, users often have to cope with some glitches, revealing that the software hasn’t yet reach its maturity.

Still, what the Android OS lacks in ease of use, it compensate with plenty of features and customization features, hence offering users an overall pleasant experience with the device.

The T-Mobile G1 really represents a strong alternative to a good part of the smartphones available today, and even to the iPhone. By offering it through a large number of its retail stores, T-Mobile will certainly help the G1 become a very popular device.