Internet search giant Google launched its long-awaited mobile phone on Tuesday, unveiling a handset developed with telecom carrier T-Mobile to compete with rival Apple's hot-selling iPhone. The T-Mobile G1, the first mobile device powered by Google's open-source Android software, will be available in stores in the United States on October 22 and will cost 179 dollars, 20 dollars cheaper than the iPhone 3G.
The G1, which is a bit thicker but narrower than an iPhone and comes in three colors, black, white and brown, will go on sale in Britain in early November and in other European countries served by T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Germany's Deutsche Telekom AG, in early 2009. The G1 offers many of the features of the iPhone and Research in Motion's popular BlackBerry.