G1-HTC’s Answer to the iPhone?

G1 is the latest in the offering from the Smartphone company giant HTC (High Tech Computer). G1 is one of the most anticipated Google phones and it seems that they plan to roll out the product in Indian markets by the end of the year. The G1 has features similar to the Apple iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry, so the G1 should be taking on the iPhone in the Indian markets.

HTC’s new cutie is based on the Android platform, a mobile-based operating system powered by Linux Kernel, initially developed by Google and later by the Open Handset Alliance, which includes HTC, Intel, Motorola, Google, and Samsung. HTC has not yet finalized how it’s going to launch its geek-puller in India. It’s expected that HTC will launch the product with a mutual tie-up with one of the leading service providers in the country and also through independent retail channels. The HTC G1 Android phone is likely to be available in three colors: black, brown, and white.

 

Features

• 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with HVGA (320 X 480 pixel) resolution.
• Full 5-row QWERTY keyboard.
• One-Touch Google Search.
• Customizable Home screen with instant Email, text message and IM notifications.
• Instant access to mobile Internet services (Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Calendar).
• High-speed 3.5G network connection.
• Wi-Fi technology with seamless transition to open networks.
• Android Market with access to variety of software and media downloads. (some fees may apply)
• 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus.
• microSD (SD 2.0 compatible) expansion slot for all your storage needs.

The G1 comes with a Qualcomm MSM7201A, 528 MHz processor running an Android OS. It comes with a built-in memory of 256mb and 192mb of RAM. The 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat display is neat with touch-sensitive screen. It supports a resolution of 320 x 480 (HVGA). The network supports HSPA, WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE although band frequency, HSUPA availability, and data speeds are operator dependent. The device has a trackball with a enter key for navigation. Battery back up is quite normal. It has a Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1150 mAh and holds up a talk time of up to 350 minutes for WCDMA and up to 406 minutes for GSM, and standby time of up to 402 hours for WCDMA and up to 319 hours for GSM. It has a microSD memory card slot (SD 2.0 compatible). Apart from the features mentioned above, HTC has incorporated Digital Compass and Motion Sensor into the new G1.

The price of the HTC G1 Android in India is still uncertain and is likely to cost over Rs20, 000, which is much more than US debut price of $179.