Reuters is reporting that according to the ever dependable New York Times, T-Mobile USA will be the first network to offer Google Android handsets. The report apparently cites people briefed on the company’s plans. It would certainly be something of a scoop, though considering Google’s ambitious plans for its OS, it probably won’t be long before the first carrier with an Android handset is joined by a host of others. But, at the moment that’s by the by.
Especially when there are more important things to consider, such as who the mysterious manufacturer waiting in the wings is. Any ideas? It’s HTC of course, adding yet more highly flammable fuel to the currently roaring HTC Dream bonfire. Neither Google or HTC have responded officially to the story, though the word round the camp fire is that the device could launch as early as October.
It would certainly line up with the recently ramped up Android rumour mill, which if it continues to gather pace at the rate that it is currently, might even topple the iPhone as the headlines’ best friend.
In fact, didn’t we see something that was purported to be an HTC Dream Android phone just the other day?
Stop press! The HTC dream has been leaked! At least judging from this video we think it has. Remember that ‘reference design’ that a Google employee used to demo of the Android operating system to a BBC reporter a while back? Well this looks uncannily like said reference design, albeit in white.
It certainly looks very slick and the inclusion of a hidden QWERTY is bound to go down well with the business world (eat that iPhone’s awkward touchscreen keyboard). Of course all of this is unconfirmed at the moment, though the video that some very sharp eyed tipster sent The Boy Genius Report does look very convincing indeed.
So now in glorious blurovision, introducing (what might very well be) the first Android handset *rapturous applause etc.*
Do you remember a while back, we came across a video on the BBC where Google showed off a ‘reference design’ handset running Android? Course you do. Well, the plot is officially thickening as phonemag is reporting that HTC has just announced May 6th as the date for a special event that will be held in London with the tagline “Witness the next wave of HTC Innovation”.
Why is this relevant to Android? Only because HTC has already committed to getting an Android phone into retailers by mid 2008. Here’s where things get really interesting; HTC has already announced a handset called the HTC Dream which is widely rumored to have all sorts of iPhone baiting features such as a full touchscreen interface and onscreen keyboard. The prototype phone demoed for the BBC had just such a design and considering the time frame, it’s not such a dramatic leap of imagination to consider the possibility that what was demoed to the BBC was in fact an early version of the HTC Dream.
Are we right on the money with this, or are we just dreaming (sorry couldn’t resist). Either way, we will be covering the event on May 6th so stay tuned for more info.
