The long-awaited T-Mobile G1 smartphone combines full touchscreen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes many Google tools you've come to rely on with your PC, including Google Maps Street View Gmail, and one-touch Google search. It's also the first phone to be powered by Google's new open-source Android operating system, which offers an intuitive interface easily customizable home screen. You can also purchase optional software via the Android Market to personalize your G1 with a variety of software applications like games, social networking, and on-the-go shopping."Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you have to have a Google account to use T-Mobile G1?
A: Yes, customers must log into the phone using a Google account login when they first use the device. Once you do log into T-Mobile G1 using a Google account, your Gmail and Google Calendar will all sync to your phone providing secure, up-to-date access to your personal information. If you don't already have an account, the startup process will walk you through creating one. Creating a Google account is free.
Q: Do customers need a voice and/or data plan to use T-Mobile G1?
A: Yes, when you purchase T-Mobile G1, you must add one of two T-Mobile G1-specific data plans to their account. This is similar to other all-in-one devices we offer like the T-Mobile Sidekick or the T-Mobile Shadow. Customers must also have a voice plan.
Q: Is the G1 compatible with your HotSpot @Home service?
A: No. Unlimited HotSpot Calling (formerly named T-Mobile HotSpot @Home) is not included in the T-Mobile G1, although the device can browse the Web over high-speed wireless connections including Wi-Fi and our 3G network.
Q: Are there any advantages to using Gmail on the device versus another type of personal (POP3 or IMAP) account?
A: Yes. After first logging into their Google account, you will have all your Gmail, Google Contacts, Calendar and Talk data automatically synchronize with the phone. Anything you do on the phone with these products will seconds later become available on the computer and vice versa. If you were to ever lose their phone, their information will still be available and seamlessly synchronize with a replacement G1. You will also benefit from push email and calendar alerts (this is also available for the multi-headed email client). Finally, Gmail's contacts are synchronized automatically with the phone's contact list.
Q: What is the "search from everywhere" feature?
A: "Search from everywhere" provides customers the ability to do contextual searches. T-Mobile G1 has a hard key on the QWERTY keyboard that you can touch in order to start a search within any application you are in. For example, if you are in your contact list and hit the search key, the device will search your contact list. If you are in your email and you hit the search key, the device will search your email. You can also start a search within each application through a search option within the application.
Customer Reviews
Magnificent. Best phone I've ever had, Excellent browsing, good battery life, and I absolutely adore the slide-out keyboard. Waiting for the next update to improve the slow camera speed and inability to save pictures from text messages; expected to arrive by the end of April, and the phone will be nearly perfect when that happens, imo.
Examine your needs - for me - it was a great fit As another reviewer put it: "Depending on the type of user you are, the G1 can be a dream-come-true device (Google-Services-dependent) or a disappointment (Media/Application-heavy user coming from iPhone); it just depends on what you need."
I was looking for a phone that was more of the original smartphone concept: I needed fast, efficient gmail access; over the air sync with Google Calendar; and a good web browser. Bonuses to me, were a decent application store, and solid built in apps, like google maps. This led me to compare the iPhone, the G1, and various blackberrys. Ultimately, I picked the G1 over the blackberrys because of it's superior gmail interface and more consumer oriented application store.
I went back and forth between the G1 and the iPhone for weeks, but am confident the G1 was a better choice. With the G1 I get: - Complete google services syncing - A keyboard and trackball - Cheaper monthly service fees than ATT's iPhone data+text plan - Superior notification system. On the G1 (unlike the iPhone) you can chose to acknowledge a reminder - and pick which reminder/email/text you want to look at (or not). With the iphone, you currently get a pop up to either look at it or ignore it.
It's a difficult interface to describe, but if you are someone that has 3 emails, a calendar reminder, an IM, and a text message all waiting on your phone, you may want some flexibility in choosing what you'll look at when, and only the G1 gives you that flexibility. I gave up: - A larger screen - Better applications. What can I say? The android market is good and it's only getting better, but the iPhone has more applications. - Better multimedia management. I don't listen to music on my phone - I have my iPod for that, and w/ 50 gb of music/moives on it, no phone currently can replace it.
I guess as a novelty I might listen to music every now and then or watch a movie on the train or something, but honestly, I loaded some music on my G1 and still have never listened to it. Bottom line, if multimedia is important to you and you like iTunes, get an iPhone. If you're more focussed on staying in touch and want a phone that offers a keyboard and a great interface that I believe Google will only continue to improve, I'd highly recommend the G1."
Read more reviews at http://astore.amazon.com/cheap-cellphone-plans-20/detail/B001JT1U1E
