Google Android to land next month?

NEWS

T-Mobile USA could put the new HTC Android phone on sale for select customers as early as the middle of September, according to the blog TmoNews.

The news comes as other rumours circulate that Android phones could be delayed into 2009. But TmoNews says it has a reliable source that says the Android device made by smart phone manufacturer HTC will go on sale through T-Mobile USA on 17 September.

The price tag will be $399 full retail or about $150 for a sub-sized phone with a two-year contract. The site also said that only existing T-Mobile customers will be able to buy the phone during the presale timeframe with other customers able to buy the phone a few weeks later in early October.

The new phone, which is being called the 'HTC Dream' in blogs, will support 3G services. A recent video that is posted on YouTube shows the phone has a touchscreen, a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, and a 3-megapixel camera. Google software and services like Gmail will be tightly integrated into the device. And TmoNews reports that a Gmail account will be required to set up service for the new device.

T-Mobile is also likely to require a more expensive 3G data plan to be used with the device, the blog reported. But details on the cost of the plan haven't been released.

T-Mobile declined to comment on the rumours of the device release but the carrier has previously said it will offer an Android phone by the end of the year.

Even though the new Android phone is supposed to be 3G capable, subscribers may be disappointed in the 3G experience. T-Mobile is far behind its competitors in rolling out 3G service, with the faster-speed service available only in two markets, New York and Las Vegas. That said, T-Mobile is working to get the service up and running in at least 20 to 25 US cities by the end of the year. And it will continue deploying it through 2009.

The wireless operator is also supposedly planning to launch an open development platform for all of its phone technologies. This platform will ditch T-Mobile's traditional deck, or menu of services, and replace it with one that is open to any developer. In a way, it's T-Mobile's answer to the Apple App store.