7 ms·

Unlocked Android G1 for developers - $399

53 points by jaxn 18y ago

petercooper 18y ago
The $399 unlocked phone is listed as a "Android Dev Phone 1" not as an Android G1. That doesn't mean it's not a G1, but it doesn't say it is. Does anyone know for sure?
- enomar 18y ago
  G1 is a T-Mobile trademark. These phones are from Google and HTC, so they can't use the G1 name.
  - rlm 18y ago
    But is it the same phone?
    - zack 18y ago
      Yes.
    - jaxn 18y ago
      They point you to the TMobile site to get more details about the hardware, so I think it is safe to say it is the same phone. I bought one and asked for overnight shipping. So you can wait a few days and as me :)
ggrot 18y ago
Important point: "Since the devices can be configured with system software not provided by or supported by Google or any other company, end users operate these devices at their own risk."
- enomar 18y ago
  Well yeah; if you modify the OS, compile it and load it on your phone, you can't expect Google (or any other company) to support it for free.
zacharydanger 18y ago
$399 + $25 Android dev signup is still cheaper than eBay. :]
- andyjenn 18y ago
  ...plus 171 USD shipping to the UK - I couldn't stop myself, I wanted one.
  - litewulf 18y ago
    Is that shipping cost due to customs/VAT/not-really-shipping? 171 seems a bit...unexpected to me ;)
    - andyjenn 18y ago
      Dunno - there is just one option to ship via UPS.. was surprised also; bit like using those cashpoints and then getting prompted for an extra 2 quid at the end only..err..quite a bit more.
    - buro9 18y ago
      The shipping fee just stopped me. USD 171 = GBP 116 £116 to ship something from the USA to central London is an extremely bad deal. Next day before 9am UPS or Fedex would cost significantly less. When I feel I'm being ripped off and taken for a mug, I get off the ride.
      - danw 18y ago
        You can get one way passenger flights for close to that price. Shipping typically doesn't include and customs fees.
mad44 18y ago
When I talked to T-mobile, they said that in order for them to sell me the phone without contract (this was also $399) they would still need to have data plan added to my ongoing account. They said the phone will simply not operate without the data plan. This seems to support a recent report on excessive G1 roaming bill overseas, even though when the user did not even use the internet. I guess the G1 phone is pinging incessantly. Anyways, this new Android G1 sale is great. But, my question is, can I use this phone with an on-demand data access. Or would it be restricted to use 3G, and without a data plan I would not be able to access Internet outside of wi-fi? T-mobile's data plan is $35 a month. Very expensive...
- kqr2 18y ago
  Actually, in the US, the t-mobile data plan is $24.99/month and includes 400 messages. Be careful though. Apparently, the 400 messages includes both SMS as well as IM. http://www.breakitdownblog.com/massive-confusion-over-t-mobile-g1-data-plan-messages/ http://www.breakitdownblog.com/massive-confusion-over-t-mobi... Also, right now Walmart is selling the g1 for $200 with only a one year contract. They are also throwing in a $50 gift card.
  - enomar 18y ago
    Only certain IMs are counted in that 400; and only when you're using the default IM app. Google Talk IMs are included for free. And if you want to use something else, there are other IM apps out there that don't use T-Mobile's gateway.
- mdolon 18y ago
  Does this mean that the Android Dev Phone will also require some sort of data plan with your carrier? That would be a total buzz kill and for some people (just me?) defeats the purpose of having Wi-fi on a phone.
  - enomar 18y ago
    You don't need a data plan for WiFi to work, but yeah; if you want to access the internet using your carrier's network, you'll have to pay for a data plan.
lpgauth 18y ago
Wish apple had this sort of program for devs in their iphone program.
- pfedor 18y ago
  Cannot the iPod touch be used for such purpose?
  - enomar 18y ago
    No microphone or GPS. Not to mention that the OS isn't open source. That being said, the iPhone/iPod Touch platform is pretty awesome. It would be cool to have "Developer" iPhones with less restrictions too.
lallysingh 18y ago
Quick note: Android's been ported to the OpenMoko phone. As a phone it's got a long way to go, but it's fully free from vendor interpretation.
- blasdel 18y ago
  The OpenMoko phone doesn't just have "a long way to go", it's simply not viable. And it isn't fully free, the crappy ancient GSM chip is not open, barely works at all, and has no power management.
- danw 18y ago
  It's also possible to run Android on the Nokia N810, although this device lacks a mobile phone, only wifi.

53 points by jaxn 18y ago

The $399 unlocked phone is listed as a "Android Dev Phone 1" not as an Android G1. That doesn't mean it's not a G1, but it doesn't say it is. Does anyone know for sure?

enomar 18y ago
G1 is a T-Mobile trademark. These phones are from Google and HTC, so they can't use the G1 name.
- rlm 18y ago
  But is it the same phone?
  - zack 18y ago
    Yes.
  - jaxn 18y ago
    They point you to the TMobile site to get more details about the hardware, so I think it is safe to say it is the same phone. I bought one and asked for overnight shipping. So you can wait a few days and as me :)

ggrot 18y ago

Important point: "Since the devices can be configured with system software not provided by or supported by Google or any other company, end users operate these devices at their own risk."

enomar 18y ago
Well yeah; if you modify the OS, compile it and load it on your phone, you can't expect Google (or any other company) to support it for free.

zacharydanger 18y ago

$399 + $25 Android dev signup is still cheaper than eBay. :]

andyjenn 18y ago
...plus 171 USD shipping to the UK - I couldn't stop myself, I wanted one.
- litewulf 18y ago
  Is that shipping cost due to customs/VAT/not-really-shipping? 171 seems a bit...unexpected to me ;)
  - andyjenn 18y ago
    Dunno - there is just one option to ship via UPS.. was surprised also; bit like using those cashpoints and then getting prompted for an extra 2 quid at the end only..err..quite a bit more.
  - buro9 18y ago
    The shipping fee just stopped me. USD 171 = GBP 116 £116 to ship something from the USA to central London is an extremely bad deal. Next day before 9am UPS or Fedex would cost significantly less. When I feel I'm being ripped off and taken for a mug, I get off the ride.
    - danw 18y ago
      You can get one way passenger flights for close to that price. Shipping typically doesn't include and customs fees.

mad44 18y ago

When I talked to T-mobile, they said that in order for them to sell me the phone without contract (this was also $399) they would still need to have data plan added to my ongoing account. They said the phone will simply not operate without the data plan. This seems to support a recent report on excessive G1 roaming bill overseas, even though when the user did not even use the internet. I guess the G1 phone is pinging incessantly. Anyways, this new Android G1 sale is great. But, my question is, can I use this phone with an on-demand data access. Or would it be restricted to use 3G, and without a data plan I would not be able to access Internet outside of wi-fi? T-mobile's data plan is $35 a month. Very expensive...

kqr2 18y ago
Actually, in the US, the t-mobile data plan is $24.99/month and includes 400 messages. Be careful though. Apparently, the 400 messages includes both SMS as well as IM. http://www.breakitdownblog.com/massive-confusion-over-t-mobile-g1-data-plan-messages/ http://www.breakitdownblog.com/massive-confusion-over-t-mobi... Also, right now Walmart is selling the g1 for $200 with only a one year contract. They are also throwing in a $50 gift card.
- enomar 18y ago
  Only certain IMs are counted in that 400; and only when you're using the default IM app. Google Talk IMs are included for free. And if you want to use something else, there are other IM apps out there that don't use T-Mobile's gateway.
mdolon 18y ago
Does this mean that the Android Dev Phone will also require some sort of data plan with your carrier? That would be a total buzz kill and for some people (just me?) defeats the purpose of having Wi-fi on a phone.
- enomar 18y ago
  You don't need a data plan for WiFi to work, but yeah; if you want to access the internet using your carrier's network, you'll have to pay for a data plan.

lpgauth 18y ago

Wish apple had this sort of program for devs in their iphone program.

pfedor 18y ago
Cannot the iPod touch be used for such purpose?
- enomar 18y ago
  No microphone or GPS. Not to mention that the OS isn't open source. That being said, the iPhone/iPod Touch platform is pretty awesome. It would be cool to have "Developer" iPhones with less restrictions too.

lallysingh 18y ago

Quick note: Android's been ported to the OpenMoko phone. As a phone it's got a long way to go, but it's fully free from vendor interpretation.

blasdel 18y ago
The OpenMoko phone doesn't just have "a long way to go", it's simply not viable. And it isn't fully free, the crappy ancient GSM chip is not open, barely works at all, and has no power management.
danw 18y ago
It's also possible to run Android on the Nokia N810, although this device lacks a mobile phone, only wifi.