Product Review: Google G1 Cell Phone

Google has just entered a multi-billion dollar cell phone industry by launching the G1 to be released October 22nd, 2008 in select US cities. The basics are a $179 price tag with a 2 year service plan and will be offered through T-Mobile wireless carriers in the cities in which the company utilizes the high speed data service.

The G1 cell phone will come pre-loaded with many of Google's useful applications like the Google Search, Google Maps, You Tube, Gmail, Calendar, IM, and Contacts. This will synchronize to all your applications via Google.

G1 will utilize an easy to navigate, smooth, and sleek Android software package. The phone sports a thin sleek design, with a large 3.2" display screen that can slide to the side and opens up a keyboard. Google G1 will incorporate a large touch screen display, QWERTY keyboard, and a trackball. The G1 is made of plastic, but seems well built and sturdy.

The cell phone will work off T-Mobile's data plans including their high speed data service in select cities. The phone will also be WiFi compatible for those of you outside T-Mobile's high speed data service. It will also include GPS, Bluetooth and a stout 3.2-megapixel fixed-focus camera. The G1 will be pre packaged with a 1GB microSD card, but is expandable to 8GB.

G1 will be a bit longer, thicker, and heavier than some of its counterparts. It'll feature up to 400 minutes of talk time and up to 400 hours in standby. For you media lovers the G1 will incorporate the Amazon MP3 store, which will compete with iTunes and the iPhone.

Overall it's a good first step for Google into the market and they will be competitive. But time will tell if T-Mobile can expand its High Speed Data service across country to utilize the G1 fully. I'm sure will see version 2 (possibly G2) before too long with a number of improvements and advancements.