T-Mobile has just released the first cellphone to make use of Google’s Android operating system, the T-Mobile “G1” is manufactured by HTC and will be made available in the United States on October 22nd for $180 (plus an upgrade fee of $18) through T-Mobile. At a press event held in New York today, the wireless carrier unveiled the new smartphone which features a slide-out touchscreen display, a QWERTY keyboard, 3G wireless internet speeds, 3 Megapixel camera and the ability to download and install applications from an online store. Besides being available in the United States, the phone will also launch in the United Kingdom in November with multiple other countries following in 2009. There has yet to be an announcement of a possible Canadian launch, but it is a quadband GSM handset, meaning it would be compatible with Rogers and Fido’s networks.

T-Mobile’s “G1″ is expected to do well in part due to its operating system “Android” which makes touch-based controls possible. By involving finger flicks and long holds to easily navigate through software and gesture-based interactions using the phone’s built-in accelerometer, as well as the ability to use and install a wide range of applications and web tools including Flickr, YouTube, and Google Maps with StreetView. It can synchronize with Google desktop as well as use Yahoo and Microsoft’s instant messaging services. At this time, Android is an open source platform making it possible for other software developers to easily create applications and software for the G1. Sadly, one feature that will not be made available is the option for tethering the phone to a laptop.

The G1 will also be able to play video games and a version of Pac-Mac was shown at today’s event. According to Google there have already been an astonishing 17,00 applications created that will be made available for download to the G1.

Full list of features after the jump
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Steve jobs announced that Apple’s iPhone 3G would be available in 70 countries by the end of the year at WWDC, and according to Apple’s CFO Tim Cook, 20 more countries will join the list on August 22 for a total of 45. With that date coming very soon, Steve Jobs plan may in fact become reality, right now not all 20 are confirmed yet. Here’s a list of the 16 confirmed countries at the moment:

Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay on Telefonica
India on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone
The Czech Republic on O2
Estonia on EMT
Poland on Orange and Era
Romania on Orange
Philippines on Globe Telecom
Hungary on T-Mobile
Singapore on Singtel

Via MacWorld

We don’t know if Verizon’s Unlimited Plan announcement had anything to do with it, but AT&T announced today an unlimited plan for the same $99 as Verizon. The plan will be available starting Friday, February 22, and like Verizon’s, it only includes voice calling, data and messaging will cost extra. The plan will be available to both existing and new customers, and anyone can get it month-to-month with no contract. We find AT&T’s plan very good for consumers.

Like we predicted about a week ago, the long-rumored GSM Palm Centro is now officially available on AT&T upsetting Sprint’s expiring exclusivity, giving AT&T users access to the amazingly small handset. Unlike Unlike Sprint’s version, the AT&T Centro uses EDGE data for a somewhat slower browsing experience; besides that, though, it features a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, Bluetooth 1.2, support for AT&T’s push-to-talk service, and a full QWERTY keypad. Price with contract and rebate is $99.99.

Via AT&T

Many techies have sent have written in saying that Verizon is going to offer unlimited calling plans. Starting Tuesday February 19th, Verizon will offer the following plans:

$100 – Nationwide Unlimited (voice)
$120 – Nationwide Select Unlimited (voice, SMS, MMS)
$140 – Nationwide Premium (voice, SMS, MMS, VZNav, VCAST, email)
$150 – Nationwide Email and Messaging (voice, SMS, MMS, and data)
$170 – Nationwide Global Email and Messaging (voice, SMS, MMS, and international data)
$200 – Family plan with two lines, $100 per additional line.

More benefits included for premium-paying unlimited users:

5GB cap on data is out
No contract extension for current customers
Available on one or two year agreements
All plans include Mobile Web 2.0 portal access (skip it)
No roaming or long distance

Thanks to everyone who tipped us.

It looks as though HP does not like their native country, because the iPAQ 610 series that sports a sweet touch sensitive scroll wheel embedded in the keypad will not be available ever in the US. Devicewire, reports that the iPAQ 614 will be available to its customers as soon as next Monday an astonishing £351.99 (about $750). Ok HP we didn’t want this device anyway.

Via CoolSmartphone

AT&T Palm users get ready for the Centro, it’s coming next week. We’ve have gotten confirmation that next Tuesday will be the day that Palm’s budget handset launches on AT&T. We predict the price will be $99, at this time only white color is confirmed; more next week at launch time.

Crazy amounts of 3G handsets were not the only gadgets showed off at this year’s Mobile World Congress. NetIndex, Kaga Electronics and Runcom showed off their WiMAX-enabled portable VoIP phone. According to PR Newswire , the companies joined forces to develop a VoIP handset that used a 802.16e module, and aside from “realizing all-IP voice communication,” it also features a web browser and integrated WiFi. We do not know when this will be available, but we guess next year.

Via PR Newswire

The rumored K820 is actually the C902. Also the waterproof model, C702, is not waterproof, its Just splash and dust resistant. The C702 features a 3.2 megapixel one-handed camera great for action shots. GPS is also featured on the C702, Sony Ericsson has bundled Google Maps to see satellite imaging. The C902 features a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, face detection, a bright flash, and 160MB of storage. Both models will be available in the second quarter. The C702 will come in Speed Black and Cyan Blue, and the C902 will sport Swift Black and Luscious Red.

If you are the owner of an iPhone listen up! You all have had to deal with that annoying sound emmited from unshielded desktop speakers, and now their are speakers made just for you. The DLO iPhone-shielded Portable Speakers feature two compact speakers which snap into the base for greater portability, a rotating, removable stand, and the ability to act as a speaker phone when a connected iPhone receives a call. They will cost you $50.