Here’s a nice idea: a charger for your G1 Android-powered phone that simultaneously charges the phone and a second battery. Peter complained about the battery life of the G1, so maybe picking up a spare battery isn’t a bad idea if you live and die by your smartphone.  For $17 at netimes.com, this is a pretty easy way to ensure your Android always has the juice it needs!

Update: Just added the not nearly as informative but still official HTC T-Mobile G1 tour after the break. 

You can finally get your grubby mitts on your very own T-Mobile G1 Android phone for $179 with a two-year contract with data on October 22 here in the US. Existing T-Mobile customers can pre-order today in limited quantities. The U.K. will get the phone beginning in November, and will be across Europe by the first quarter of ’09.

Wonder if we’ll see long Apple iPhone-ish lines?

T-Mobile Unveils the T-Mobile G1 -

the First Phone Powered by Android

T-Mobile Phone Boasts an Intuitive Touch Screen and QWERTY Keyboard,

Plus Popular Google Products and Fresh, New Applications

NEW YORK – Sept. 23, 2008 – T-Mobile today announced the international launch of the world’s first Android^TM-powered mobile phone in partnership with Google. Available soon only for T-Mobile customers spanning two continents, the T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes the popular Google products that millions have enjoyed on the desktop, including Google Maps Street View^TM, Gmail^TM, YouTube^TM

and others.

“We are proud that T-Mobile is the first operator in the world to launch an Android-powered mobile device,” said Christopher Schläffer, group product and innovation officer of Deutsche Telekom.

“Since 2005, Google has been an established partner in T-Mobile’s groundbreaking approach to bringing the open mobile Internet to the mass market. With the T-Mobile G1, we are continuing our strong tradition of being pioneers in the world of the open Internet.”

Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer, T-Mobile USA, said, “The Internet and the mobile phone are both indispensable tools for our hectic lives, but only a fraction of us access the Web on our phones. The T-Mobile G1 is our opportunity in the U.S. to accelerate the mass adoption of the mobile Web, by unleashing Google innovation with a unique software experience that mobilizes the Google services hundreds of millions of consumers rely on every day.”

“Increasingly, connectivity does not just mean a phone call, but rather access to the world’s information,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google. “Today’s news signifies an important first step for the Open Handset Alliance: With Android, we’ve opened the mobile Web not only for millions of users, but also to mobilize the developer community that understands the next most important platform in the world rests in the palm of our hand.”

With a fun and intuitive user interface and one-touch access to Google Search, the T-Mobile G1 is also the first phone to provide access to Android Market, where customers can find and download unique applications to expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle.

T-Mobile customers in the U.S. have the opportunity to pre-order the T-Mobile G1, in limited quantities, beginning today at www.T-MobileG1.com and be among the first to experience this game-changing phone. The device will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online in the U.S. beginning

Oct. 22, for a price of $179 with a two-year voice and data agreement. The T-Mobile G1 will also be available in the United Kingdom beginning in November, and across Europe in the first quarter of 2009. Countries include Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Delivering the Familiarity of Google for a Superior Mobile Internet Experience:

The T-Mobile G1 with Google delivers a premium, easy-to-use mobile Web and communications experience in one device. Working together, T-Mobile, Google and HTC integrated Android and

T-Mobile services into the phone’s form and function. The T-Mobile G1′s vibrant, high-quality screen slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, great for communicating with friends online or using the phone’s e-mail, IM and mobile messaging capabilities. As another option for accessing the device, the

T-Mobile G1 comes equipped with a convenient trackball for more precise, one-handed navigation.

“T-Mobile, Google and HTC share a similar vision for making the mobile Internet practical, relevant and fun,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “The T-Mobile G1 represents the culmination of this vision by offering a variety of services, applications and content that introduces an Internet experience that everyone can enjoy. We are honored to be joining T-Mobile and Google today for this historic unveiling of the T-Mobile G1.”

With one-click contextual search, T-Mobile G1 customers in a flash can search for relevant information with a touch of a finger. A full HTML Web browser allows users to see any Web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on the screen.

With built-in support for T-Mobile’s 3G and EDGE network as well as Wi-Fi, the T-Mobile G1 can connect to the best available high-speed data connection for surfing the Web and downloading information quickly and effortlessly.

Google Maps Street View:

With Google Maps, Google’s groundbreaking maps service, T-Mobile G1 users can instantly view maps and satellite imagery, as well as find local business and get driving directions, all from the phone’s

easy-to-use touch interface. The T-Mobile G1 also includes Google Maps Street View, allowing customers to explore cities at street-level virtually while on the go. Without taking a step, customers can tour a far-away place as if they were there – standing on the street corner. Even better, the Google Maps feature syncs with the built-in compass on the phone – an industry first – to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand. Google Maps Street View is available today in many U.S. locations and soon in European countries.

Communicating on the Go:

The T-Mobile G1 features a rich HTML e-mail client, which seamlessly syncs your e-mail, calendar and contacts from Gmail as well as most other POP3 or IMAP e-mail services. The T-Mobile G1 multitasks, so you can read a Web page while also downloading your e-mail in the background. It combines Instant Messaging support for Google Talk^TM, as well as AOL®, Yahoo! Messenger ® and Windows Live Messenger in the U.S. With access to high-speed Web browsing and a 3-megapixel camera with photo-sharing capabilities, the T-Mobile G1 is ideal for balancing a busy lifestyle, whether sharing pictures, checking the latest sports scores or accessing social networking sites.

Embracing User-Generated Content:

Customers can use the T-Mobile G1′s 3G and Wi-Fi connection to attach and share pictures over email and MMS or download music from their favorite Web sites, and soon, upload and post pictures to their personal blog. Built-in support for YouTube allows customers to enjoy YouTube’s originally-created content, easily navigate through YouTube’s familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos.

Music at Your Fingertips:

The T-Mobile G1 comes pre-loaded with a new application developed by Amazon.com that gives customers easy access to Amazon MP3, Amazon.com’s digital music download store with more than

6 million DRM-free MP3 tracks. Using the new application, T-Mobile G1 customers are able to search, sample, purchase and download music from Amazon MP3 directly to their device (downloading music from Amazon MP3 using the T-Mobile G1 requires a Wi-Fi connection; searching, sampling and purchasing music can be done anywhere with a cellular connection). The T-Mobile G1 will be the first device with the Amazon MP3 mobile application pre-loaded.

Android Market:

The T-Mobile G1 is the first phone to offer access to Android Market, which hosts unique applications and mash ups of existing and new services from developers around the world. With just a couple of short clicks, customers can find and download a wide range of innovative software applications – from games to social networking and on-the-go shopping – to personalize their phone and enhance their mobile lifestyle. When the phone launches next month, dozens of unique, first-of-a-kind Android applications will be available for download on Android Market, including:

ShopSavvy: an application designed to help people do comparative shopping. Users scan the UPC code of a product with their phone’s camera while they are shopping, and can instantly compare prices from online merchants and nearby local stores.

Ecorio: a new application developed to help people keep track of their daily travels and view what their carbon footprint looks like. With access to tips and tricks, Ecorio allows users to record the steps they take throughout their day to help offset their impact on the environment.

BreadCrumbz: a new application that enables people to create a step-by-step visual map using photos. Customers can create their own routes, share them with friends or with the world.

For more information on the T-Mobile G1 in the U.S., please visit www.T-MobileG1.com. For more information on the T-Mobile G1 in the United Kingdom, please visit www.T-Mobile.co.uk/G1.

Notes: Additional charges may apply to features and services. 3G may not be available in all locations. Price and availability of device subject to change; taxes and other charges may apply.

We’ll be covering the event live, which starts in about 20 minutes. We already have the official press release and images, though, so here you go. Enjoy…

Introducing the T-Mobile G1 with Google, the first phone powered by Android, an innovative mobile software platform. Available for T-Mobile customers spanning two continents, the T-Mobile G1 combines full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes popular Google services such as Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others.

With a fun and intuitive user interface and one-touch access to Google Web Search,
T-Mobile customers can now get instant answers on the go to all of their questions and stay connected in more ways than ever before. The T-Mobile G1 is also the first phone to provide access to Android Market, where customers can find and download unique applications to expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle.

Key Features of the T-Mobile G1 include:

· Intuitive user interface and hinged touch screen that slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard

· Convenient trackball for one-handed navigation

· Three color options in the U.S. – white, brown and black

· One-click contextual search to instantly find relevant information with a touch of a finger

· Full HTML Web browser and zoom function that expands any page section by simply tapping on the screen

· One-touch access to popular Google applications including Google Maps Street View, Gmail, YouTube and others

· Google Maps provides map information, satellite imagery, local business info and driving directions as well as MyLocation to let users know where they are; Google Maps Street View syncs with the built-in compass on the phone – an industry first – to allow users to view locations and navigate 360 degrees by simply moving the phone with their hand

· Google Maps Street View for virtual street-level exploration while on the go

· Rich HTML email client, which seamlessly syncs e-mail from most other POP3 or IMAP mail services, including Gmail; displays photos and graphics right along with the text

· A beta version of Android Market for access to new, innovative software applications to personalize your device to fit your life from games, music and on-the-go shopping

· At-Launch Applications:

o ShopSavvy: designed to help people do comparative shopping

o Ecorio: developed to help people keep track of their daily travels and view what their carbon footprint looks like

o BreadCrumbz: enables people to create a step-by-step visual map using photos; customers can create their own routes, share them with friends or with the world

o Amazon MP3 Store (pre-installed on device): enables people to search DRM-free, full-track MP3 music and download that music from Amazon directly to their device using a Wi-Fi connection

· Built-in support for T-Mobile’s 3G (HSDPA) and EDGE network as well as Wi-Fi; T-Mobile G1 will seamlessly transfer between 3G and accessible Wi-Fi networks including T-Mobile HotSpot locations worldwide

· Built-in support for YouTube allows customers to enjoy the website’s originally-created content, easily navigate through YouTube’s familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos

· Built-in instant messaging client with support for Google Talk, AOL, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger

· Support for advanced text messaging features to easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of group conversations through threaded text messaging

· 3-megapixel camera with photo-sharing capabilities

· Music player supports MP3, M4A (iTunes AAC, DRM-free), AMR, WMA, MIDI, WAV, OGG Vorbis

· Pre-installed 1 GB Micro SD memory card that can hold approximately 500 songs (device supports up to an 8GB memory card)

· 11 pre-loaded songs including tracks from The Helio Sequence, Kinski and Flight of the Conchords

· Bluetooth-enabled

· myFaves-enabled

· GPS capabilities

· Voice recognition, voice dialing and speakerphone

· GSM/GPRS/EDGE/Wi-Fi and UMTS/HSDPA

· 850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100Mhz

· Up to 130 hours standby, up to 5 hours talk time

· Dimensions: 4.60” x 2.16” x 0.62”; Weight: 5.6 ounces; Display: 3.17 inches

Pricing & Availability

For specific information on pricing and availability, please visit www.t-mobileg1.com.

Hey, that Google phone is coming (in case you hadn’t heard). Looks like it’ll be called the T-Mobile G1 (no mention of the word “Dream” anywhere) and will at least come in black. Unfortunately when Peter “Sweet Pete” Ha clicked that “Learn more” link, he got a no-go popup. Oh well. It goes to t-mobileg1.com if you’re interested.

If you have a T-Mobile account then you, too, might be able to recreate such amazing wonderment! Just go to http://my.t-mobile.com and start digging around. Enjoy!

[via Engadget]

Hey, that Google phone is coming (in case you hadn’t heard). Looks like it’ll be called the T-Mobile G1 (no mention of the word “Dream” anywhere) and will at least come in black. Unfortunately when Peter “Sweet Pete” Ha clicked that “Learn more” link, he got a no-go popup. Oh well. It goes to t-mobileg1.com if you’re interested.

If you have a T-Mobile account then you, too, might be able to recreate such amazing wonderment! Just go to http://my.t-mobile.com and start digging around. Enjoy!

[via Engadget]

The Wall Street Journal reports that T-Mobile will start selling the very first Android-powered smartphone in late October. (That is, of course, provided the world doesn’t descend into anarchy by then.) The paper cites “people familiar with the matter,” which is much better than citing “eh, just a feelin’ we have.”

Look for some sort of official announcement from T-Mobile on September 23.

Once again, the first Android phone will be the HTC Dream, and HTC is expected to ship between 600,000 and 700,000 of the smartphones.

But will Android be a big bust? That’s the question to ask now.

We have here what appear to be some actual, big-boy shots of the impending T-Mobile HTC Dream. You know, the Android phone? As always, take these types of things with a grain of salt, although these photos do look pretty convincing. The shots were grabbed from a Chinese-language forum and sent to Engadget. My Chinese isn’t all that good, considering I’ve never been there, spoken the language, or learned to read the many and varied symbols. These photos should be worth a couple thousand words in any language, though.

[via Engadget]

Rumor! Grains of salt and whatnot. Forward-looking statements, etc. Thinking caps on, pencils down and what have you. Gearfuse apparently got a tip from an insider close to the HTC Dream saying that the device “will feature a keyboard and trackball almost identical to the Sidekick.” If this is true, fine by me. The Sidekick’s got a nice keyboard.

I’m not head-over-heels, take-it-to-the-prom in love with the trackball but it gets the job done. This video from a few weeks ago is supposedly the Dream in action and, yes, the fleeting glances of the keyboard and trackball make them look like they could be in the same league as the Sidekick’s.

Android continues to lumber toward a release. Just as the FCC approved the HTC Dream, Google released an updated beta of the SDK, version 0.9. MobileCrunch has several screenshots of the updated user interface if that’s your thing.

Perhaps more interesting, Google has published a roadmap for further Android development. Among other things, Google reiterates for the zillionth time that actual, real life phones using Android will be released next quarter. Also, version 1.0 of the SDK will be released next quarter, too. It’s shaping up to be an exciting quarter, that’s for sure.

The New York Times now believes the HTC Dream will first be available on T-Mobile. That is to say, the first Android phone will be available on T-Mobile this year, perhaps as early as October.

The phone will have a touchscreen as well as a slid-out keyboard.

That phone seen in this video? Apparently it is the HTC Dream after all.

All of that jibes with earlier reports.

Good thing I didn’t bother with that crack-prone iPhone 3G. I have a feeling you’d get massive geek cred running around with an Android phone.

Read more

The guys over at TmoNews say they have some trusted sources who have priced the handset at $399, or $150 for existing customers during the presale, which will start September 17th and only last one week. A public launch, and availability for those who aren’t current T-Mobile customers may not happen until beginning/mid October.

The newest leaked features include a 3-megapixel camera, slide-out Qwerty keypad and three color varieties: black, white and brown.

We’ll keep you updated if this rumor develops