Happy sixth anniversary G1, the first Google Android phone

Google G1

Our headline on Electronics Weekly was: Google, T-Mobile, HTC unveil G1 Android phone

There’s a nice description of the runup to the launch from Des Smith of T-Mobile, worth checking out in full:

I remember one morning a few weeks before the announcement I visiting Google, chillin’ in cafe Moma in full Google attire (t-shirt, jeans and vans) when Andy Rubin and my big boss Cole Brodman came walking in – I thought I was busted for sure, T-Mobile guys were always wearing dockers and button down shirts…but they both smiled, said hello and asked me how the project was coming – were we going to make it?  How was the Android team to work with (awesome people like +Hiroshi Lockheimer & +Keva Nelson, +David Conway, +Grace Kloba, +Peisun Wu, +Erick Tseng, +German Bauer – just to name a few).  Was I excited to finally “launch”? and more.

Features of the historic phone?

• Size: 117.7 mm x 55.7 mm x 17.1 mm (LxWxT)
• Weight: 158 grams
• 3.2in Touch screen
• Drag and drop UI
• Slide out (full QWERTY) keyboard
• HSDPA/WCDMA: Europe: 2100 MHz, US:1700/2100 MHz
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate (headset, hands-free profile)
• Processor: Qualcomm MSM7201A, 528 MHz
• Memory: ROM:  256 MB, RAM:  192 MB
• Talk time: Up to 350 minutes for WCDMA, 406 minutes for GSM
• Music support (one-click ordering through Amazon)
• Compass mode (location awareness)
• Support for Push email

Android Market, we reported, was Google’s equivalent of the Apple App Store.

The G1 was priced at $179, with two data pricing plans available – $25 for unlimited Web usage with limited messaging, and $35 for both unlimited Web browsing and messaging.

“Because the platform is open we believe the Android future is future proof,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google.

“With the T-Mobile G1 we are continuing our strong tradition of being pioneers in the world of the open Internet,” said Christopher Schläffer, Group Product and Innovation Officer of Deutsche Telekom.

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