This blog shows a purported image of the forthcoming HTC Dream from T-Mobile, aka the ‘GPhone.’ The phone is set to be announced on 9/23 and go on sale mid-October for $199 (reportedly). It will immediately attract users who want the iPhone but are unwilling to switch to AT&T.
If the phone is well done and sells (see sales forecast) other US carriers will accelarate their development of the device.
The Android phone is most directly a threat to Windows Mobile, Palm and Apple. More people would buy an iPhone but for the AT&T relationship. Palm is reeling under increased smartphone competition and Windows Mobile has a lackluster brand identity in the market.
RIM is the relatively safe one and seems to be gaining in terms of smartphone share. The iPhone is the best thing that could have happened to RIM because it got the company off its complacent posterior. It’s now developing a range of improved phones and working on improving the software and mobile Internet experience.
Location awareness on the mobile phone (people get it) is going to help bring better geotargeted advertising to the Internet. Watch and wait.
Related: See my discussion of local apps from among the Android Developer Challenge winners.
September 22, 2008 at 2:54 am |
The gPhone is just a street term right? I think Google is going after the OS market and not the hardware market. It would’ve been fun but I don’t think this will get too much hype. All first version mobile OS’s usually are poorly executed except the iPhone was an excellent job.
September 22, 2008 at 3:11 am |
Yes there is no official “gPhone.” But on Tuesday we’ll see how prominent the Google branding will be. People will likely refer to the phone as a “Google Phone.”
September 22, 2008 at 3:12 am |
T-Mobile will likely hype the connection to Google, which has the strongest brand of all the involved players: T-Mobile, HTC, Google/Android