Google calling.... (T-Mobile G1)

Member Name: shaney99

Product:	T-Mobile G1
Date:	25/06/09 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hi-speed 3G, Wi-Fi, User Friendly.

Disadvantages: Battery Consumption, Lack of true Bluetooth

The T-Mobile G1 (or "Google phone") as it's commonly known is an incredible piece of mobile technology.

with a design incorporating touch screen alongside a QWERTY keyboard akin to that of the "sidekick" this offers the best of both worlds.
The touch screen itself is sensitive enough without being a nuisance upon itself and the user, clear sharp picture and a bright backlight (default setting) make this an easy to read display. Like the majority of phones it is harder to see clearly in direct sunlight, but is still better than average.

Comparable to a Blackberry for being constantly conected to the 3G network the G1 also offers wi-fi connectivity, although a drain on power this is a generous bonus especially when at home or in the office and able to charge up again if needed.

Like another rival in the Iphone the G1 also ofers the "Andriod" marketplace, here very similiar if not identical apps can be downloaded, improving a variety of thigns from power managers to fun and quirky games. The list is of a sizeable figure and offers a variety of free or cost orientated apps. Being a Google backed project the Web is google orientated, and this includes being able to import your gmail account and chat with users on an "msn" style chat.
Alongside the apps downloadable you also have the youtube application already pre-loaded for ease of use and google maps that works alongside the GPS system to accurate display your locaton in map or satellite picture form.

Memory is sandisk approved and so easy to upgrade should you find yourself needing more, if you're lucky you can get 8GB included however for those not so lucky like myself you get a 2GB pre-installed card, this has been ample for me so far with over 50 pictures and 30 apps im still not needing to have more.

With so many apps the possibilties of what your personal phone will end up beign able to do are endless, as a standard out the box piece of kit this is certainly up there with the top phones at the time of writing. However, there are some issues that should be thought over before coming to any conclusion as to whether this is the phone for you.

Firstly and most prominent is battery consumption, whilst this has a bearing and can be controlled by limiting your internet usage etc it can be annoying when it does start sapping your power, although from what friends have described it is no worse than an Iphone running the same programmes, ideally you're looking at between 8 - 16 hours before neednig a charge, based as mentioned upon usage durnig the day.

Another issue to mention is the bluetooth capabilites, whilst included at the present time you can't share data via bluetooth. T-Mobile have obviously got an upgrade along the line to rectifiy this as the base system for bluetooth is active on the phone, Upgrades do happen and the 2 i've had so far really do improve the performance no end!

So if you do find yourself in the market for a new phone and like something a lil bit special, and perhaps different from the blackberry's and iphones that are the "in" thing go for the G1 you won't be let down and will certainly wonder why you didn't choose it sooner.

Summary: Great phone, with a few very minor issues.

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