And here comes another Android phone

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/12/google-phone-unlocked-confirmed/

Lots of speculation...

Interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[foghorn67]

Snapdragon. Mmmm, mmm, good.

 

[Pliablemoose]

"Update: Google kinda, sorta, partially admits “Google Phone is real.”​

The internet is abuzz this morning with a TechCrunch article stating that the long rumored “Google Phone” has been completely, 100% confirmed. According to TechCrunch sources and pictured Twitter remarks, the Google Phone has been handed out to an unknown number of Google Employees who are claiming “revolutionary changes.” Having discussed with our sources regarding the matter we are able to get further remarks that T-Mobile will support this launch as we have previously stated. Here is what we know:​

• The phone will be sold strictly by Google, T-Mobile will NOT sell the device
• Billing, General Questions and General Troubleshooting questions will be handled by T-mobile
• Handset features, Handset Exchange and Advanced Device Troubleshooting will be handled by Google and/or Call Center Partners
• T-Mobile hopes that by supporting the launch, they will have the opportunity to add additional customers
• HTC is the definite manufacturer and the device IS believed to be the HTC Passion, the word Passion is tossed around everywhere according to our sources
• Postpaid and Flexpay accounts are both currently slighted for support
• No information is available as to whether or not T-Mobile is the exclusive partner"

http://www.tmonews.com/2009/12/google-phone-that-much-closer-to-realization/

I'm psyched, I have a grandfathered TMobile contract, and an actually out of contract with them, so I can renew, get subsidized phones, sell them and put Google phones on it

 

[zerocool84]

It sucks that it's only ganna be on Tmobile. I wish it was on a better network like Sprint or Verizon.

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah, I'd prefer they make a CDMA version of it as well. AT&T and T-Mobile both have terrible network coverage in the US.

 

[Demo24]

My guess is that it's the same thing as the HTC Passion, just with google custom UI onboard. Therefore Verizon should be getting a variant of it, but with HTC's SenseUI. That's kind of what I have been gathering from the net today.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

So is this phone the HTC Bravo we saw leaked int he roadmap?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/06/htcs-2010-roadmap-goes-on-display/

And if it is this is because HTC is releasing this whole for the rest of the world. No one else cares about our CDMA fiasco.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

it would kind of stink if it didn't support AT&T 3G if Google/HTC is planning on selling it carrier free...I am excited to try an Android 2 phone, but I've still got my 3GS contract...

 

[bigal40]

Yeah, I'd prefer they make a CDMA version of it as well. AT&T and T-Mobile both have terrible network coverage in the US.

CDMA is an inferior and outdated technology, by 2011 Verizon will be moving to GSM and I would assume Sprint will eventually make the switch as well.

I travel quite a bit and there are very few places where I get no reception. Sometimes I don't get service in certain big buildings(like the interior parts of hospitals) but other than that I have never had a problem with signal.

 

[bigal40]

it would kind of stink if it didn't support AT&T 3G if Google/HTC is planning on selling it carrier free...I am excited to try an Android 2 phone, but I've still got my 3GS contract...

I agree, if it only has T-Mobile 3g bands I don't understand what Google hopes to gain by selling it carrier free, unless they think it is so good people will use it on EDGE like T-Mo customers do with the iPhone.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I dunno what to make of the stories, bottom line, is it makes no sense to release a non subsidized phone, with TMobile being the only carrier offering a discount on a non subsidized line of service, saving a whopping $10/month.

Unless they're going to sell the phone at a loss like MS did the XBox.

 

[zerocool84]

CDMA is an inferior and outdated technology, by 2011 Verizon will be moving to GSM and I would assume Sprint will eventually make the switch as well.

I travel quite a bit and there are very few places where I get no reception. Sometimes I don't get service in certain big buildings(like the interior parts of hospitals) but other than that I have never had a problem with signal.

Well Sprint is on a different network for 4G so yea.

 

[Muadib]

Better pics of the Google phone:http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/13/google-phone-makes-first-twitter-appearance/

 

[bigal40]

Well Sprint is on a different network for 4G so yea.

Sprint is also losing customers like there's no tomorrow.

 

[bigal40]

Unless they're going to sell the phone at a loss like MS did the XBox.

They don't even have to sell it at a loss(except for maybe development costs) - the actual cost of materials and assembly will probably be ~$150.

 

[destrekor]

CDMA is an inferior and outdated technology, by 2011 Verizon will be moving to GSM and I would assume Sprint will eventually make the switch as well.

I travel quite a bit and there are very few places where I get no reception. Sometimes I don't get service in certain big buildings(like the interior parts of hospitals) but other than that I have never had a problem with signal.

CDMA isn't a terrible technology, but it has a few limitations but in the end have no true impact on cell service, unless you must absolutely use cellular data and phone at the same time, which might be nice but far from necessary. it's a luxury, nothing more, far from required. not that I wouldn't mind having it, just preventing the reply that includes situations where it can be useful. Can be useful is quite different from necessary. Hanging up, using data, then calling back is hardly the end of the world. Like I said, I'll like the feature when Verizon gets it.

And speaking of Verizon, they aren't "moving to GSM", in true terms. Looking at GSM as it is right now, technically it's based on CDMA tech, it just took a different development path.

Verizon is implementing LTE, which can be argued as being an evolution of GSM tech, but all are quite similar in most of the communication protocols. W-CDMA, an evolution of "CDMA" communication protocols, is compatible with the 2G GSM cell service and in fact is the most common 3G GSM standard, IIRC. CDMA2000 is Verizon's, and they simply used Qualcomm's evolutions in CDMA2000 to get into the 3G ring. It was far more cost efficient and the most unified cell service platform in terms of 2G and 3G tech, which those two reasons are why Verizon has the largest 3G service in the US. A far more economical approach due to the geography of the US, sacrificing a little speed for a more practical approach, providing overall good speed to far more customers. The US is constantly plagued with communication performance problems and the upgrade paths/costs, because we have the largest geography for a developed country. China and Russia have cell service but far from covering all of their geography, whereas in the US there are no service regions for all carriers but far fewer black regions than other large countries. But I digress, that's an unimportant discussion.

LTE is an evolution of both CDMA and GSM/UTMS protocols, and happens to be under the same standards board as GSM/UTMS.
The best part of it, is it's entirely backwards compatible with, well, basically all cellular protocols, which is why Verizon has no qualms about backing LTE and in fact favored it over competing standards.
I can't wait for LTE and LTE-based devices, as I'll continue to enjoy all of the CDMA2000 (1X and EV-DO) cellular reception, and when near LTE towers, enjoy insane speed. When I've been in "no service" areas, I've been with people who have GSM and also have no service, or I've had service with Verizon while they had no service. Alltel also had more service in the outlying communities and that ended up being roaming, and now that's just more Verizon coverage.
Of course, it depends on the radio capabilities in every phone. I've had phones that would get service in a certain area (a campground), and phones that would either get zero reception or come and go. No 3G, but having reception for at least the phone sure is nice.
Yet to go anywhere remote with my Motorola Droid, but my past Motorola phones have had the strongest reception in remote areas.

 

[destrekor]

They don't even have to sell it at a loss(except for maybe development costs) - the actual cost of materials and assembly will probably be ~$150.

hah, doubt it.

Advanced phones are quite expensive. Look at all the smartphones and their MSRP. I seriously doubt a Motorola Droid cost $150 to build and yet the MSRP is around $500. The whole point of subsidizing the cost (the cellular providers) and offering phone prices of $200-300 on contract is to recoup the loss of money (Verizon has to pay X for each phone, then turn around and sell it for X-200) through the monthly bill.

 

[Pliablemoose]

There's a thread over at XDA Developers, it's a Dev phone just like the G1, everything else is just BS...

TMobile 3G frequencies... Only.

 

[bigal40]

hah, doubt it.

Advanced phones are quite expensive. Look at all the smartphones and their MSRP. I seriously doubt a Motorola Droid cost $150 to build and yet the MSRP is around $500. The whole point of subsidizing the cost (the cellular providers) and offering phone prices of $200-300 on contract is to recoup the loss of money (Verizon has to pay X for each phone, then turn around and sell it for X-200) through the monthly bill.

That's all phones cost to make.
For example the iPhone materials cost $100.
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/06/17/apple-iphone-3g-manufacturing-costs-would-you-believe-100.html

The article says initially it cost ~$175 for Apple to make an iPhone 1st gen, and then they cut down on assembly/parts costs and got it down to $100.
HTC has been making phones for years and will have no problem making things as cheap or cheaper than Apple can.

 

[TheWart]

There's a thread over at XDA Developers, it's a Dev phone just like the G1, everything else is just BS...

TMobile 3G frequencies... Only.

So Google is releasing an unlocked, non-subsidized phone that only works on TMobile's 3G network? That seems sort of silly, and I have a hard time seeing how that would be the 'game changer' some are saying it will be.

 

[Pliablemoose]

So Google is releasing an unlocked, non-subsidized phone that only works on TMobile's 3G network? That seems sort of silly, and I have a hard time seeing how that would be the 'game changer' some are saying it will be.

The tech bloggers lost their minds over the weekend.

 

[TheWart]

The tech bloggers lost their minds over the weekend.

Yea, that is what it seems. I could see this being a big deal if they simply sell it unlocked (GSM), and at basically a 'subsidized' price, meaning that Google will use it to spread their brand/services. Then I could see it taking off. But if it is priced over $300-400 and is not a revolutionary phone compared to the iPhone or Droid, then I don't see Americans jumping over one another for it.

 

[Dangerer]

release date????m???????

 

[Pliablemoose]

So what happened is that Google gave away a bunch of ADV 3 phones to it's employees.

Said employees are not particularly tech savy and took the unlocked part of the adp phones to assume that it was the magic Google Phone and that it would be carrier independent.

They got it 1/2 righ and got the rest mixed up becaue they're blissfully unaware of the cell phone industry and how things work.

http://developer.android.com/index.html

ADV phones 1 and 2 are shown, ADV 3 will be the Passion and available to developers or anyone who registers to sell on the APP Store.

 

[bigal40]

So what happened is that Google gave away a bunch of ADV 3 phones to it's employees.

Said employees are not particularly tech savy and took the unlocked part of the adp phones to assume that it was the magic Google Phone and that it would be carrier independent.

They got it 1/2 righ and got the rest mixed up becaue they're blissfully unaware of the cell phone industry and how things work.

http://developer.android.com/index.html

ADV phones 1 and 2 are shown, ADV 3 will be the Passion and available to developers or anyone who registers to sell on the APP Store.

That doesn't explain why these ones given out on Friday weren't HTC branded like the earlier ones were.