The launch of the G1 in the US was a much-hyped and celebrated occasion. The G1 won’t be the only Android phone within the next few months, but that isn’t stopping HTC from shipping its G1 to a number of Asian providers starting next year, probably in February or March of 2009.
HTC will be providing several variations of the HTC Dream G1 to Android-hungry cell phone carriers in Asia. Details regarding pricing, region features, etc. haven’t been released, but it’s good to see HTC getting more global in their efforts to introduce the world to Android. Most successful things like this require a global approach (see: the iPhone), and it’s good to see HTC and Google recognizing that fact.
This story probably also means that HTC will be providing factory unlocked handsets at that time. In many Asian areas, you can’t sell anything other than unlocked phones, so it’s only a matter of time before phones emerge minus T-Mobile branding, which could change the market and pricing for the phones somewhat, even in the US.
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tommy 11.05.08 at 5:41 am
While this is exciting news about the Android, I believe the xperia x1 is due in Asia first, and while Sony Ericcson may not have the power of the Google name, the xperia is a more impressive phone to look forward too. I have also heard that the Android is more a fancy way to access Google sites, and I wonder how much use people are going to have for that. This is also keeping in mind that Asia is known for its techno expertise.