- Title: USA: Google's G1 phone hits U.S. stores
- Date: 25th October 2008
- Summary: JUGGLER ENTERTAINING PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE BALLOONS, TILT TO CHUCK HOUSTON AND HIS SON, NAING NAING HOUSTON
- Embargoed: 9th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Science / Technology
- Reuters ID: LVA3U644P16JFXI901E124N4U1E8
- Story Text: Google's G1 cellular phones go on sale in the United States.
Google's G1 mobile phone went on sale in the United States Wednesday (October 22) to far less fanfare than its closest competitor, Apple's iPhone.
Ana Lopez sat in line outside a T-Mobile store in Times Square for three and a half hours before the store opened its doors and she could be their first customer to buy the new phone. Lopez loves to send text messages, and thinks that the G1's features will suit her needs.
"The keyboard, because I'm like a big texter and the camera, It's a really good camera, I love taking pictures too," she said.
Chuck Houston from California sat shivering on a cold New York morning in support of his son, Naing, who wanted the G1. He likes the phone, says Houston, because it's something new.
"The sad thing about it is, if they introduced a G2 tomorrow, we would be here," he said, chuckling.
The G1, made by HTC, is Google's first foray into the world of mobile phones, and while it may not attract long lines like Apple Inc's iPhone, it offers much to those looking to use their phones for more than talking.
Carmine Gialaneloa, also waiting in the queue of about 40 people, says that the iPhone is overrated and is susceptible to freezing up.
"I've been checking this phone out online for the past month and a half, and it looks pretty cool, so I figured I'd give it a try," said Gialaneloa.
The G1 boasts a qwerty keyboard and a 3.2 megapixel camera -- two functions that buyers believe the iPhone can't match. Other features include a full web browser, an online market to buy games and software, and a music player.
T-Mobile's store manager, Eric Holland, who has been using his G1 for a week, says he hasn't even switched his laptop on in four days, because the G1 is so easy to use for e-mail and web browsing.
"I think really the cell phone industry is transitioning away from form and more into function and this phone has a whole lot of function, it does pretty much everything you want it to do, other than, you know, cook you dinner," he said.
Ana Lopez was very excited to finally hold her G1 and told Reuters that the first thing she would do with it is text her best friend.
"It feels real. It feels like it's happening, it's happening, it's working," she said.
Upcoming versions of the phone could have a completely new user interface, as Google has opened the operating system to outside developers.
Both T-Mobile USA and HTC already have plans to offer more phones based on the Google systems.
The G1 sells for 179.99 dollars with a 2-year plan from T-Mobile. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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