Google Inc. and T-Mobile USA today unveiled the highly anticipated smart-phone G1, the first in the industry to be based on Android, Google’s operating system for mobile phones. Currently available for T-Mobile customers only, the T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes popular Google services such as Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others. The T-Mobile G1 is also the first phone to provide access to Android Market, where customers can find and download unique applications to expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle.

Today’s Official announcement includes the following as key features of G1:

• Intuitive user interface and hinged touch screen that slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard
• Convenient trackball for one-handed navigation
• Three color options in the U.S.—white, brown and black
• One-click contextual search to instantly find relevant information with a touch of a finger
• Full HTML Web browser and zoom function that expands any page section by simply tapping on the screen
• One-touch access to popular Google applications including Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others
• Google Maps provides map information, satellite imagery, local business info and driving directions as well as MyLocation to let users know where they are; Google Maps Street View syncs with the built-in compass on the phone—an industry first—to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand
• Google Maps Street View for virtual street-level exploration while on the go
• Rich HTML email client, which seamlessly syncs e-mail from most other POP3 or IMAP mail services, including Gmail; displays photos and graphics right along with the text
• A beta version of Android Market for access to new, innovative software applications to personalize your device to fit your life from games, music and on-the-go shopping

At-Launch applications include:

• ShopSavvy: designed to help people do comparative shopping
• Ecorio: developed to help people keep track of their daily travels and view what their carbon footprint looks like
• BreadCrumbz: enables people to create a step-by-step visual map using photos; customers can create their own routes, share them with friends or with the world
• Amazon MP3 Store (pre-installed on device): enables people to search DRM-free, full-track MP3 music and download that music from Amazon directly to their device using a Wi-Fi connection
• Built-in support for T-Mobile’s 3G (HSDPA) and EDGE network as well as Wi-Fi; T-Mobile G1 will seamlessly transfer between 3G and accessible Wi-Fi networks including T-Mobile HotSpot locations worldwide
• Built-in support for YouTube allows customers to enjoy the website’s originally-created content, easily navigate through YouTube’s familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos
• Built-in instant messaging client with support for Google Talk, AOL, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger
• Support for advanced text messaging features to easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging
• 3-megapixel camera with photo-sharing capabilities
• Music player supports MP3, M4A (iTunes AAC, DRM-free), AMR, WMA, MIDI, WAV, OGG Vorbis
• Pre-installed 1 GB Micro SD memory card that can hold approximately 500 songs (device supports up to an 8GB memory card)
• 11 pre-loaded songs including tracks from The Helio Sequence, Kinski and Flight of the Conchords
• Bluetooth-enabled
• myFaves-enabled
• GPS capabilities
• Voice recognition, voice dialing and speakerphone
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/Wi-Fi and UMTS/HSDPA
• 850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100Mhz
• Up to 130 hours standby, up to 5 hours talk time
• Dimensions: 4.60” x 2.16” x 0.62”; Weight: 5.6 ounces; Display: 3.17 inches

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