In an effort to compete with the iPhone and enter the smart phone market, Google released its first phone, the G1, in the fall of 2008. It was ultimately designed for use with the T-Mobile cell phone service and has been offered exclusively by this provider. T-Mobile offers access to a 3G high-speed network and the G1 can also connect to any basic Wi-Fi network in range.
G1 runs the Android Operating System
The G1 phone is the first to be powered by Android, Google’s own operating system. Android offers its own marketplace where users can download additional applications and features. The G1 also includes an integrated camera with 3.0 megapixels as well as mp3 player capabilities. Additionally, for hands free operation, users can operate Google search by voice command.
Google Apps on the Go
The G1 is designed to make use of all of Google’s applications and features while on the go. One of the most useful of these is Google Maps, which allows users to find their way and get information on businesses, restaurants, and more. Plus, the phone knows where a user is and can instantly respond to search inquiries with local results. The G1 also works naturally with Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Talk, and even YouTube.
The G1 can also connect to e-mail services sync this information right to the phone. Plus, it offers a full web browser with all that the internet has to offer. This means viewing web pages as they naturally appear, not though a “mobile web” type interface. As for battery life, charging the phone takes less than two hours and, with average use, should last roughly a day.
G1 is definitely user friendly
The G1’s interface is remarkably user friendly. It features a slide out keyboard with Qwerty in addition to a responsive touch screen. This touch screen is equipped with a unique phone locking system that adds security to the device while also preventing accidental calling. Users can also set special shortcuts that respond to longer presses on the touch screen. There are also five regular, hard keys on the phone’s casing for easy access to important features. These include power/end, call, menu, home, and back buttons.
The G1 was the first smart phone to truly give the iPhone a run for its money. Of course, both the G1 and the first generation iPhone have come a long way in the last several months. Now, Google has released its upgraded HTC Magic, which also runs on its Android system and has many of the same capabilities of the G1.
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