T-Mobile Stuggling to Meet Android Demand

Source: Eric Zeman, Information Week

Interest in the HTC G1 appears to be off the charts. In response to a huge number of pre-orders for the Android handset, T-Mobile is attempting to accommodate everyone. If you want an Android phone, you'd better act quickly.

T-Mobile issued the following statement regarding The G1's availability:

Given the great anticipation and the heavy pre-sale demand for the T-Mobile G1 with Google, we nearly tripled the number of phones initially available for delivery on our Oct. 22 launch date, and have sold through them all. However, to accommodate additional T-Mobile customers who want to pre-order a device, they now have the opportunity to place a pre-order through Oct. 21, for delivery at a later date.

Also, people can still pre-register on the T-Mobile G1 Web site to be notified prior to launch where they can purchase the device beginning Oct. 22.

If you haven't already ore-ordered the G1, it looks like your only bet is to pre-register for one. The caveat, of course, is that you have to be an existing T-Mobile customer to both pre-order and pre-register. If not, you have to wait until the G1 actually hits store shelves to pick one up. Given the high demand, the G1 might be this holiday season's Tickle Me Elmo Extreme.

Does the Google - Dell Tale Smell?

According to MarketingNews:

Speculation is mounting that Google is plotting the launch of a mobile phone in partnership with computer giant Dell.

Now the speculation begins. Actually, it's been going for some time.

Will Android actually get it runs time on a phone manufactured by Dell?

Hey, in this wacky world of wireless weirdness, I'll believe just about anything.

On the other hand, Elgan's not falling for it and he's got four solid reasons why it doesn't make sense. Check it out HERE.

Google Wireless

It seems that Google has been the topic of conversation here more than any other company in recent days. And today is no exception, as Google announced on Monday that it was leading a broad industry effort to develop new software technologies aimed at turning cellphones into powerful mobile computers.

While not all industry analysts and wireless carriers (Verizon and AT&T) are convinced, I just can't imagine how anything that provides competition for Verizon and AT&T can be a bad thing (at least from the consumer perspective).

And although Google's not planning a Google Phone any time in the near future, it's main emphasis seems to be in partnering with others to develop and market the phones. The list of companies that have jumped on the Google bandwagon isn't shabby: handset makers Motorola and Samsung; carriers T-Mobile, Sprint and China Mobile, and semiconductor companies Qualcomm and Intel.

Seems to me that there will be more wireless jobs to go around some time soon.

Read the entire NYTimes article HERE.

Google Mobile - the winners and losers

Google’s big mobile splash: Handicapping the winners and losers by ZDNet's Larry Dignan --

Dignan provides his perspective on the impact of Google's move in the mobile space, giving us the winners, losers, and the companies left on the fence. This is a condensed version - check out Dignan's article for the full scoop:

Winners:

• Google: The search giant has managed to line up a big chunk of the wireless industry, cordoned off some mobile advertising inventory and may have found away to commoditize the wireless operating system.
  

• Sprint: The wireless carrier is struggling and needs a plan. By aligning with Google–by most counts Sprint will be on the partner roster–Sprint may give itself a much needed spark. This effect may be magnified if Verizon Wireless isn’t on board with Google. AT&T isn’t expected to get cozy with Google yet.

• Developers: Google’s mobile software stack is giving developers some open field to play with.

• Open source: Google’s Android is expected to integrate parts of Linux. This is a mobile victory for the open source movement in what remains a proprietary wireless world. The leading mobile software players are all proprietary.

• Handset makers: Google’s mobile software stack sounds like it’ll come cheap–like free. This fact enables handset makers to push the envelope on the hardware side of the equation.
  

Yet to be determined:

• Apple: A few folks have taken Google’s leap to surmise that Apple will be hurt somehow. There may be some potential impact, but there’s a cure for this line of thinking. Repeat after me: Apple sells hardware.
  

• Microsoft: Windows Mobile is entrenched, has a big footprint in the corporate world and is a key partner to wireless carriers and developers.
  

• Consumers: Mobile phone users will apparently get better software out of this Google move. But if the trade off is more ads on your phone it may be a wash for some.

Losers:

• Palm: Man it gets tiring kicking Palm, but it’s clear this former high flier has major problems. Wasn’t Palm trying to cook up its own Linux based operating system? Yup. It’s late to the party and looks like Google will get any momentum that may come its way. The Palm OS is rapidly becoming a footnote to the history of the wireless market.

• Wireless carriers’ current business model: Wireless carriers have a model that is extremely controlling. In the grand scheme of things, Google is nibbling away at the standard wireless business model.

What do Verizon and Sprint have in common? Interest in the Google Phone

Google Inc. is chewing the fat with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp., about selling handsets tailored to its new mobile-phone operating system.

It was just a matter of time, eh?



source: Wall Street Journal Online (Amol Sharma)

Google Phone Around the Corner?

Here's a post about the stealthy Google phone from one of my favorite sites: engadget imobile

According to reports out of India, Google is currently in talks with country's first and third largest telecos, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, concerning everyone's favorite mobile rumor: the Google Phone.

...read the complete engadget post HERE

Will Google Go Wireless?

There's been rampant speculation about this for weeks. However, jet fuel was recently poured on the fire when a Boston-area VC claimed inside knowledge of a major initiative that was afoot.

The speculation is focused on Google, Samsung, and Andy Rubin, co-founder of Danger, Inc., the maker of mobile devices.

Reading articles like this and this, lead me to believe it's just a matter of time.