Mobile applications for Google Android phone a hit among users - says Google

Here is some happy news from the Google camp. The mobile applications for the recently released Android phone – T-Mobile G1 – are a hit among consumers.

Google executives have stated that on an average, a T-Mobile G1 user downloads 14 mobile applications. There are around 200 mobile apps available in the Android Marketplace right now and almost all of them have been well received by mobile users. Google is very happy with how things have gone with the Android phone.

As of now, the mobile apps in Android Marketplace are free. However, Google is planning to let developers charge for their apps soon. Once it happens, 70% of the revenue generated will to go the developers, a small percentage of the revenue will be used to cover the transaction charges, and the rest of the amount will go to the mobile operators. None of the mobile operators has raised any questions about this revenue sharing model so far, so we can safely assume that they are fine with this arrangement.

Google is also happy about the use of mobile data on the T-Mobile G1. Consumers have been very active so far and use various Google services like the search facility and Google Maps and a variety of third party services as well. Google has stated, without revealing the actual numbers, that there has been a ‘huge spike’ in consumer activity in the last month or so.

So, things are hunky-dory at the moment for Google. It will be interesting to see how consumers react once developers start charging for the software. What do you say?

Categories: Google, All things mobile phones.

0 comments.

T-Mobile G1 from Google - A detailed look

So, the much awaited Google phone has been finally released. Called the T-Mobile G1, the phone looks quite dashy. Being the first phone to use Google’s Android operating system, G1 has managed to generate quite a buzz in the market.

The handset, built by HTC, looks neat. The way I see it, its shape reminds me of the iPhone. G1 has a slide-out keyboard which is very convenient to work on. The phone has a trackball and a touch screen. The device is capable of running multiple tasks at a time with relative ease. You can access Gmail, Google search, and Google Maps easily. The device also has a 3 megapixel camera, which is surprisingly good, Wi-Fi, GPS, full HTML browser, and offers five hours of talk time.

Overall, T-Mobile G1 is a very nice phone. It will be officially released on October 22nd. Customers will be asked to sign a two year contract with T-Mobile. T-Mobile has priced it at $179 and offers two different plans for customers – unlimited data and limited messaging for $25 per month and unlimited data and unlimited messaging for $35 per month.

The most attractive factor, the USP, of the G1 is the open source Linux based OS, which allows developers around the world to create different types of mobile applications for the phone. Users can simply download the applications they want through the Android market. And unlike Apple, T-Mobile has no restrictions on applications. So, users will be able to download whatever application they want, any time.

In my opinion, T-Mobile G1 will appeal to technophiles and hardcore smart phone users more than anyone else. The phone is chic, loaded with features, and runs on an open source platform which leaves lots of room for innovation – quite a nice combination, don’t you agree?

Categories: Google, All things mobile phones.

0 comments.

Google to become the default search provider for Sprint

Google, in an attempt to further strengthen its position in the mobile market, has taken its relationship with Sprint to the next level. From now on, Sprint users will be able to access Google applications more easily than ever.

1. Google will become the default search provider in Sprint’s portal. Also, Sprint plans to add a Google search box to the screen of a chosen few devices so that users will be able to access Google with a single click.

2. Google will also be the default provider of GPS enabled local search for Sprint users.

3. Google Maps for mobile will be available on Sprint handsets. Using this, users will be able to access live traffic information, get direction assistance for driving, view roadmaps, find local businesses, and also view satellite imagery, which is a specialty of Google.

4. Google’s YouTube will be available on new Sprint handsets. Needless to say, this will probably be the most accessed application of Google in Sprint handsets.

Sprint has been one company which has always stood by Google and it’s not surprising at all that they’ve got into such a deal. If you remember, Sprint was one of the first companies to make Gmail available in its portal about a couple of years back. Also, Sprint is a part of Google’s Open Handset Alliance.

In my opinion, this is a perfect example of a symbiotic relationship. Google will gain a stronghold in the mobile market by reaching out to a lot of customers and Sprint will be able to offer a lot of choices and a richer mobile experience for its users.

Categories: Google, All things mobile phones.

0 comments.