T-Mobile G2 HSPA Smartphone Announced
On a stark white page with no images, T-Mobile announced the G2, a successor to the G1 which was the first Android powered smartphone. T-Mobile sold 1 million phones within the first 6 months of an October 2008 launch. {Christian Science Monitor} With the iPhone continuing to inspire pandemonium and flashier Android competitors from HTC and Motorola driving buzz – not to mention sales, for Verizon and Sprint, it’s high time for a flagship phone for T-Mobile.
They recently killed of the Sidekick, one of the earliest consumer-friendly smartphones. The Nexus One, Google’s attempt at selling a smartphone directly to consumers, had a backhand arrangement for special pricing on T-Mobile, but considering that it’s going forward purely as a developer phone speaks volumes about how well that arrangement worked out with consumers.
While details on the phone are scarce, T-Mobile may be betting on their network as much as hardware to entice mobile users to give them a chance.
“The T-Mobile G2 will deliver tight integration with Google services and break new ground as the first smartphone designed to run at 4G speeds on our new HSPA+ network.” {T-Mobile}
Currently, Sprint’s EVO 4G is the only phone capable of running at 4G speeds, but it’s important to keep in mind that 4G is still fairly limited in terms of geographic reach. AT&T and Verizon are making upgrades to their networks to debut 4G service. Given AT&T’s problems with reliable coverage with 3G and even standard service in certain locations, the G2 combined with a faster network could give T-Mobile an advantage for AT&T fans looking to escape their contracts. Verizon is the likely candidate for its own iPhone, but for those who travel internationally T-Mobile could be a better fallback. They also run a GSM network, like AT&T, so switching would just be a matter of unlocking the iPhone (something which should hopefully be easier since a recent ruling declaring jailbreaking legal). If they can beat AT&T to a stable, reliable 4G service, the G2 may just be the cherry on top of the information T-Mobile plans to release “in the coming weeks.”
