Google now hawking fully unlocked G1s to developers
It didn’t take long before people started hacking away at the T-Mobile G1, the first phone to ship with Google’s Android platform, and now it looks like Google wants to make it even easier. Starting today, Google is offering a development version of the G1 that is both SIM and hardware unlocked.
News link: here
130 Responses
12.10.2008
Windows mobile is absolute ***** compared to android or the iphone OS. I’d prefer Android, but seeing as I’m on At&T I’ll take the iphone.
12.10.2008
I’d buy a Palm before I buy a WM phone.
12.10.2008
I would consider buying one even though I am on Tmobile, to avoid the contract extension and having to have a non t-zones plan. I would save the extra $200 in <10 months
12.10.2008
one thing about the G1 – I picked one up yesterday. I extended the contract and all that. I went from a WING (HTC Herald or also known as HTC 4350) to the G1. Without a full data plan the G1 is completely useless. T-Mobile charges 20-35 bucks per month for the data only. 35 a month gets you unlimited anything data including txt messages. 20 a month gets you everything except up to 300 txt messages free. I picked mine up at a T-Mobile retail store. took about 2 hours to get the device provisioned so i could activate it. You cant get it activated unless you have some sort of data access to it.Be aware that there is no Exchange push (I work in IT and i need to get mail for corporate stuff) they are supposively working on exchage sync but will be a while. only thing i found is contacts sync for exchange 2007. If you run exchange 2003 you are SOL. Also, i have yet to see anything to support contacts, txt message, call log database export / import utilities from a windows mobile 6.1 device to android. Dont get me wrong, i’m a total android whore now. the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) is a good device. its uglier than all hell but the LCD is really nice. If you turn on all the bells and wistles, the battery life sucks ass. if you turn off GPS and web, battery life is descent about 5 hours. also if you dont do anything with the device of course it will save battery life too.
12.10.2008
this to to ***** amazing to be true
12.10.2008
This is a great move. I was skeptical about Google’s actual commitment to openness when the G1 is largely as locked down as the iPhone with regards to the operating system and the baseband (okay, the source is available… but you can’t actually change it on your phone!), but this has definitely assuaged my doubts.
12.10.2008
Should I get an E71 or a G1? i’m having a tough time. The G1 might be worth the extra $34 dollars.
12.10.2008
Must … have … newest … gadget …
12.10.2008
Shipping to Canada: UPS Innovations (Tracking) – $264.49What the *****?
12.10.2008
Each phone is delivered to you via elite corporate jets!
12.10.2008
I’d get one, but the battery life worries me
12.10.2008
Anti-apple my ass (Commenting on a previous comment).. Google used to be the anti-microsoft-stick-it-to-the-man savior.. and now they are monitoring my behavior. All companies do things not for the betterment of humanity but whatever affects directly their pocketbook.
12.10.2008
dude, if youre commenting on a previous comment then just reply to that comment…
12.10.2008
oops looks like Apple is finding out the same rules apply for the iphone just like the imac.The mass majority will own a PC just like the mass majority will eventually own a G-phone.Apple needs to learn how to loosen up their prices and technology or 2009 will be set in stone.The Gphone is going to get a few overhauls from some dedicated code monkeys in 2009.
12.10.2008
Not currently…..the iPod has worked wonderfully for them(in terms of money and market share) OS X works for profit, but not for market share.The iPhone will probly be something mix between the two….high profit, and while not a majority of the market share, still higher then OS X(in regards to PC world)And you really think a majority of the market will have Android? Please, cut the bull. The smartphone market is getting cut up more and more, and this time there will be no OS that has 90% of the market(like in the PC world)
12.10.2008
Why? there is no competition at the momentWhen android starts to kick arse THEN apple will drop their prices
12.10.2008
I’m sure I’ll get dugg down since it’s an Apple-bashing-fest in here, but:99% of G1 sold will still be locked. The general public won’t bother with this developer version. It means that the general public will still be subjected to any restriction the cell providers want to impose (providers can restrict the OS all they want and then lock it, because hey, it’s open-source!).Any "new" cool stuff that’s now possible in the dev version (modification/re-flashing of the core OS etc.) won’t be possible on the consumer G1, unless people "jailbreak" it.
12.10.2008
I will get one now and have both a G1 and 3G iPhone. G1 will work when I travel now. Sorry iPhone, you stay at home in the desk drawer. Non Paris for vous!!!
12.10.2008
Good luck getting the G1 to work if you’re on AT&T.
12.10.2008
T-Mobile USA uses a different frequency for 3G than all other carriers in the world. So it won’t work with any other carrier. Not even T-Mobile in Europe.
12.10.2008
G1 is a sidekick on crack!!
12.10.2008
fer cereal. i don’t want a miniature computer, i want a smart phone that can function as a computer in the packaging of a phone/pda. i mean, the htc touch hd or pro are far nicer than the g1 – why the hell would they select such a lousy/old-school device for the first release?
12.10.2008
Shame its so rubbish or this might actually be worth something.
12.10.2008
I might buy one if it worked on AT&T… but it won’t.
12.10.2008
i work at a mobile game developer and this is very cool but with a device closet of more than 1400 handsets i have to say that HTC is about the ***** handset OEM around and it’s a shame that it’s the only handset supporting android, I’ll really be impressed when android is available on Sony Ericsson and Samsung devices.
12.10.2008
I’ve been playing with their emulator with the most recent version of the developer software, this phone’s software has no where near the polish of an iPhone… which is funny because it has been in development longer than the iPhone. Oh well, I’ve got mine in the mail and my fingers crossed that Android will devour market share just as it’s Linux cousins have, oh wait.
12.10.2008
Go Google! This solution to the problem is so obvious; I don’t know why it took so long to arrive. Want the revenue stream from steady service contracts? Issue the standard phone with a T-Mobile Contract. Want to let techies to their thing? Make your money up front on the hardware. It’s a win-win and competitors will follow suit once they loose enough market share.
12.10.2008
Way to spell ‘Hawking’ correctly! Dugg!
12.10.2008
You mean they’ll ship an unlocked G1 to Australia?! Awesome! Take that, Kogan!