Androids attack: Google Nexus S to hit Australia

The second Google-branded smartphone is about to hit Australia as analysts predict the search giant's mobile platform will surpass iPhone sales in Australia within a few years.

The Google Nexus S, released in the US and Britain in December last year, will be sold in Australia "soon", according to Vodafone which has clinched a global distribution deal. Those interested in buying one are being asked to register their interest on Vodafone's website.
Meanwhile, Sony Ericsson confirmed it would be launching its Android-based Xperia Play - dubbed the "PlayStation Phone" - on February 13. Support for Android is exploding with new phones soon to be launched by Motorola, Samsung, HTC, LG and Acer.

The Nexus S, manufactured by Samsung, is the successor to the Nexus One, which launched around the world in early 2010 but only reached Australia in small quantities in July last year.

The Nexus S is the first Android phone with a built-in near-field communication (NFC) chip, which opens up a raft of new applications such as the ability to pay for items by swiping your phone on a shop scanner. NFC, which has only been running in limited trials in Australia, has been reported as a feature of the next iPhone model.

The device is manufactured by Samsung, whereas the Nexus One was built by HTC. It runs version 2.3 of Android (dubbed Gingerbread) and offers a 4-inch super AMOLED screen, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for photos, front-facing VGA camera for video chat, 16GB of built-in storage and 512MB of internal memory.

Vodafone Australia did not reveal pricing or a firm sale date for the Nexus S, which is based on Samsung's Galaxy S.

Foad Fadaghi, telecommunications analyst at the Australian firm Telsyte, said he expected Google's Android platform to "match or exceed" iPhone sales in Australia by 2013.

"We expect Android will have a market share of 18 per cent by the end of this year," he said.

"Nexus S represents even further improvements of the Android platform with version 2.3. It addresses the top end aspirational market and is suitable for existing Android users wanting an upgrade."

But Fadaghi said he expected most of the growth in the Android platform would come from cheaper mid-range handsets sold on pre-paid SIMs.

Mark Novosel, telco analyst at research firm IDC, said the Nexus S, being a Google-branded phone, would receive software updates faster and offer a "pure Android experience" without other vendors' custom user interfaces.

But the Android phone Novosel is most excited about is the LG Optimus 2X.

"Being the first dual-core processor smartphone, its extremely responsive and the screen has a wide viewing angle and very vibrant colours," said Novosel.

"LG's Optimus Black will also be one to watch, its slimmer, lighter and promises outstanding outdoor visibility with an extremely bright screen."

Novosel said he expected Android to become the number one smartphone operating system in Australia by the middle of this year, but in terms of a vendor-by-vendor comparison Apple would likely remain in first place.

Google has added new features to Android in recent weeks to help it catch up with iPhone, including an Android Market web store that can be accessed from PCs and in-app purchasing, allowing app developers to sell new content and upgrades from within their apps.

But this move suffered a slight setback after security firm Sophos warned that the Android Market website could be used to install malware on users' phones.

HTC Desire HD hits Australia in November

Available early next month ... HTC Desire HD

HTC's challenger to the iPhone 4, the Desire HD, goes on sale in Australia early next month at Vodafone and 3 mobile stores.

Last night Vodafone revealed that the Desire HD would be available for $0 upfront on a $59 a month plan with a two-year contract. It will also be available around the same time on 3 mobile but specific plans have yet to be announced.

The Desire HD is an update to the original Google Android-based Desire launched earlier this year, which many critics said was superior to the iPhone 3GS.

Telstra, which was for a time the exclusive carrier for the original Desire, pushed the Android platform heavily and tomorrow Vodafone will throw its weight behind Android with a major marketing campaign for the Desire HD. This will include a "Vodafone Android Island Party" attended by leading Australian music acts.

Google's Android platform has a smaller market share in Australia than the iPhone but several manufacturers, including HTC and Samsung, as well as the mobile carriers, have strongly backed it. By Christmas, the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 platforms will be engaged in a cut-throat battle for smartphone supremacy.
"The over-arching message is really that Android is giving power back to the telcos," said Telsyte mobile analyst Foad Fadaghi.

"It's giving them the opportunity to operate the way that they used to operate before the iPhone came around. Telcos want to own the customer, they want to have a greater slice of the value chain, they want to have their own app stores, and they don't want to be locked into the Apple way of doing things. That's why you're seeing the massive push from all of the carriers."

The Desire HD, an Android 2.2 handset, features a huge 4.3-inch touchscreen display (compared to 3.5-inch on the iPhone 4), an 8-megapixel camera, 720p video recording, a 1GHz processor, an aluminium unibody shell and Dolby/SRS sound support.

The phone comes with a new version of HTC's user interface overlay, Sense, which includes a number of small tweaks and access to a new suite of online services dubbed HTCSense.com.

HTCSense.com, which can be accessed from a PC, has some similarities to Apple's Mobile Me, allowing users to find their phone on a map if they lose it, trigger it to ring loudly, lock the device, erase all data, forward calls to another number or leave a text message for the finder of the phone.

A complete history of calls and text messages, even those that have been deleted from the handset, can be accessed at HTCSense.com, as can a range of wallpapers and plugins.

The new HTC Sense features a new navigation tool called HTC Locations, which includes turn-by-turn navigation and a compass that helps with orientation when users are on foot.

Like Nokia's Ovi Maps, the maps can be stored on the phone so users don't have to have an active data connection to access them. Through HTCSense.com, users can mark landmarks or specific locations on the map and have this data automatically sent to the phone.

Through a partnership with Kobo, users can access a range of e-books to read while also being able to highlight passages and add notes. Another new feature, HTC Fast Boot, promises to power the handsets up within 10 seconds.

There is also an improved camera app with photo editing tools allowing users to add effects such as fish eye and sepia.

Videos, photos and music stored on the phones can be played wirelessly on TVs that support DLNA home networking technology. Those without DLNA-enabled TVs can buy a dongle adapter.

Meanwhile, Vodafone, attempting to pre-empt findings from the Australian Communications and Media Authority's customer service inquiry, announced a major overhaul of its customer service capabilities today.

This includes a call back service to avoid customers having to wait on hold, new Vodafone and 3 handset service centres around the country that can do repairs within an hour and an online self-service application that lets customers better track their spending.

Google's 'superphone' launches in Australia

Google's much hyped Nexus One 'superphone' finally went on sale in Australia today with Vodafone Hutchison Australia snapping up the exclusive online rights to sell the handset.

The Nexus One will be available on a “first-come, first-served” exclusively through VHA's website for $0 on a $79 cap over 24 months.

The Nexus One is a Google-branded handset created in partnership with Taiwanese manufacturer HTC to showcase the Android eco-system, but its release has been overshadowed by flood of other high performance Android phones such as the HTC Desire.

Google closed down its US online store in May created especially for the smartphone after failing to market the device via the web, leaving analysts and technology bloggers questioning whether this might signal the end of the Nexus One.

In spite of this, Google last week released figures that revealed its Android operating system was winning ground from the likes Apple and Microsoft, with 160,000 new Android handsets being activated every day around the world, and over 65,000 apps now available to download from its market.

The Nexus One runs on version 2.1 of Android which is voice enabled and includes Google maps, interactive wallpapers, and enhanced social networking switching capabilities.


The handset is also expected to be the first phone to get the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update when it is launched.

VHA also announced today it would increase monthly mobile data allowance across most of its Vodafone and 3 contract plans with “anywhere from double to ten times the current data allocation, depending on the plan,” it said.

“It's great to be delivering even more value at a time when prices continue to rise on most other everyday items,” said John Casey, director of marketing.

Coinciding the with VHA announcement, Telstra cut the price of caps on its HTC Desire to $49 and $79, and increased the download limits to 200MB and 500MB respectively.

More Android phones to hit Aussie shores in the next few months..

This month sees the launch of a new wave of Google phones in Australia. Most run the much-improved Android 2.0 OS.

First in Android's new wave is Motorola, which hopes its Google phones will spur a return to the glory days of the stylish, slim RAZR and, a decade before, the original Star Trek-style flip phone.

This week sees the launch of the Motorola Dext and Backflip on the Optus network.

Both complement the now-mandatory touchscreen with a compact QWERTY keypad. The Dext is a more conventional slider, while the Backflip uses a hinge to position its screen at a lean-back angle suitable for watching videos or even using as a bedside alarm clock.

Despite using a mid-range 530MHz processor and running last year's Android 1.5 operating system, the Dext and Backflip are snappy performers with their own appeal beyond the Android OS itself.

That's because both sport a customised interface known as Motoblur. This puts the social networking services of Facebook, Twitter and MySpace right on to the phone's home screen.

Instead of having to log into individual apps for each service to read messages, post updates and browse uploaded photo galleries, widgets on the Motoblur home page provide live feeds that are updated constantly over the 3G network.

Motoblur also integrates messages from these social networking sites, plus emails and SMS texts, into a single view.



This month Telstra will release its first Android smartphone, the HTC Desire, which will use its Next G network. The Desire ticks every box on the techno-lust list. There's a powerhouse 1GHz processor, the over-fresh Android 2.1 operating system, a five-megapixel camera, FM radio and a brilliantly crisp 9.4-centimetre AMOLED (active-matrix organic LED) screen. Unlike the iPhone and some other smartphones, the Desire supports Flash, so you don't have to miss out on most of the streaming video clips on news and entertainment websites.

HTC has also planted its own Sense user interface onto the Desire. Sense comes with dozens of classy widgets, integrates each contact's Facebook and Twitter details into your address book and includes a Friend Stream app that combines feeds from Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Also sitting on the Android launch pad is Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10, which will arrive on Vodafone and Three in early May.

The Xperia X10 matches the HTC Desire with its 1GHz processor but ups the digital camera to eight megapixels, with snaps and video clips shown to best effect on the 10.2-centimetre screen.

Sony Ericsson's Timescape user interface ties together social networking updates with emails, phone calls and text messages but it's more akin to the Motoblur home screen than the top-to-tail experience of HTC Sense.

By mid-year we'll also see the palm-sized X10 Mini, which has a 6.3-centimetre touchscreen and, in the X10 Mini Pro version, a tiny slide-out keyboard.

Also poised for a likely mid-year release is Samsung's second-gen Android handset, the Galaxy S. This is another phone packing a 1GHz powerplant and a 10.2-centimetre screen but the enhanced Super AMOLED screen has to be seen to be believed. It's not just brighter but the colours have more density and punch, while also less reflective of sunlight and drawing less power (which means longer battery life).
Things are really starting to heat up!

April is Android month for Aussies

A fistful of phones running your favourite mobile OS are set to launch next month, giving Android a boost while Microsoft waits for Windows Phone 7.

Christmas is coming early for Aussie Android fans as manufacturers and telcos ramp up for a bevy of smartphone launches next month.

HTC is prepping for the debut of the Desire, which will be available only through Telstra for a three-month exclusivity window before competing carriers can add it to their roster.


Motorola has issued Australian tech journalists with a ‘Save the Date’ notice for a launch on Tuesday March 30th. This is expected to see the release of one or possibly more Android phones from Motor’s current portfolio – which includes the Milestone (the 3G version of the Verizon Droid), DEXT (aka CLIQ), Devour or Backflip.

Sony Ericsson has confirmed April as the target date for the release of its first Android phone, the Xperia X10. VHA says the X10 will be available on both the Vodafone and 3 networks as of May, although it’s not known if this will be an exclusive deal or if other carirers will also be lined up at the X10’s starting gate.

Samsung is also rumoured to have at least one more Android handset on the boil, while speculation continue to swirl about a local release for Google’s Nexus One.

With such a surge of smartphones Android could shortly repeat the success it’s had in the US.

Market trackers ComScore reported Android enjoying a 4.3% boost in its share of the US smartphone market between October 2009 and January 2010. Not only was this the largest growth among its competitors, it almost exactly mirrored Microsoft’s drop of -4.0%.



As of January 2010, RIM retained its alpha-dog status with a commanding lead of 43% compared to the iPhone’s 25.1%, Microsoft’s 15.7% and Google’s 7.1%.

With Microsoft’s current Windows smartphone platform effectively stalemating itself until the release of the first Windows Phone 7 devices shortly before Christmas, there’s no reason to expect that the next two quarters will do any favours for Microsoft’s market share.

Based on these results and the continuing wave of Android smartphones, it seems almost inevitable that Android will pull level with Windows Mobile within the next few months.

Nexus One coming to Vodafone UK in April?

Google’s first own-brand mobile phone, the Nexus One, is rumoured to launch in UK in April.

Currently UK users are able to purchase the unlocked version of the phone from Google’s website, however they will now be able to buy the smartphone via Vodafone dealers starting April.

Sources close to both companies have confirmed that April is when the company will have a realistic chance of being ready for the launch, according to The Daily Telegraph.

At the moment there is no clear information on the price of the Nexus One for UK but rumours state the superphone should cost around 150 euros with a contract plan from Vodafone.

Hopefully this can also be interpreted as being good news for Australian consumers as Vodafone has also confirmed it will be selling Nexus One in Australia later this year.

HTC sets its Hero free!

In a turnabout move HTC sidesteps all four Australian mobile carriers to launch its Android-powered Hero and Tattoo smartphones unlocked and for outright sale.

In an unexpected and possibly last-minute twist, HTC has sidestepped all carriers and all networks and will offer its new Hero and Tattoo smartphones for outright sale, unlocked, through mass market retailer Harvey Norman.

Earlier information indicated that Optus or one of its network-sharing partners would have the exclusive on both Android-powered handsets, but in what appears to have been a relatively last-minute change, HTC has gone direct to the market.

This is the first time the Taiwanese smartphone supremo has taken the retail-only path, with all of its previous smartphones offered through at least one carrier.

“We just wanted to get these handsets out there” Anthony Petts, HTC’s ANZ Director of Sales and Marketing told APC. Petts said that carrier deals are still under discussion.

“Further distribution channels will be announced in due course. We’re continuing to discuss (the Hero and Tattoo) with operators, but there’s nothing that I can say the the moment.”

Customers will be able to buy the Hero from Harvey Norman for $799 “by the end of November or early December”, with the more consumer-oriented Tattoo available “a few weeks after that” for $599.

The handsets can then be used with the customer’s desired network – either for the best network coverage or the carrier which offers the best deal.

However, given that the Hero covers only 2100MHz and 900MHz as 3G HSDPA bands, this rules out Telstra’s Next G network.

Customers of 3 can use the Hero and Tattoo on 3’s primary but limited-coverage 2100GHz network while customers of Optus and Vodafone can tap into both carriers’ primary 2100MHz and regional 900MHz networks.

HTC Hero launched in Australia

HTC Hero launched in Australia $799 RRP unlocked, no carrier plans? Sold by Harvey Norman?
.. Stay tuned for details.

HTC Hero & Tattoo Australian release announced!

The aptly-named HTC Hero and it's little brother the Tattoo will make their Australian début next week on Optus' dual-band 3G network.

The kick-off, to be held on Wednesday afternoon (18th, November 2009) at swanky Sydney waterside eatery Doltone House, will see the Hero replace the Magic as HTC’s flagship Android phone.

The Hero is quite late arriving to the Australian market, could it be because it is to be loaded with the newfangled Android 2.0 OS?

.. Only 3 sleeps till we find out!


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More Androids head towards Australian shores

A new breed of Androids is about to touch down in Australia as handset makers put the iPhone's dominance to the test with new smartphones built on Google's mobile operating system.

While HTC is the only company to have released Android handsets in Australia, Samsung will unveil its first Android offering next week with the launch of the Icon Galaxy.

The Galaxy taps into the desire to customise and personalise phones and integrate them with applications used elsewhere Tyler McGee, telecommunications vice-president at Samsung Australia, said.

"People are now buying their fifth, sixth or seventh handset, so I'd say, globally, the smartphone category is moving fast into the mainstream," he said.

The Galaxy has an organic LED screen and 5-mega-pixel camera, and 8GB of internal memory (which is upgradeable to 24GB) also helps to boost its smartphone credentials.

The launch of the Galaxy will be followed closely by HTC's Hero, which is due in Australia before October. No stranger to the Android platform, HTC launched the G1 Dream in Australia last February and its HTC Magic followed a few months later.

"We've certainly taken leadership with Android. We believe that in the next 18 months to two years that the cloud [where you store all your contacts and photos etc] will have a determinate factor on what devices you choose," Anthony Petts, HTC's regional sales and marketing director, said.

He said the Hero would offer better functionality and an improved user experience with a new capability, called "scenes", that allows users to group weekday or weekend usage profiles using widgets that are live and intuitive.

"We are continuing to expand the Android portfolio of products and strongly believe end users are looking for different sizes, form factors and keyboards, so we're giving them a variety of choices," he said.

While no other handset makers have formally announced new Android models for the Australian market, Motorola is reported to have two phones close to completion and set for release to some markets in September, although the company declined to provide specific timings.

"Motorola can confirm that we will be launching Android handsets but can't disclose any details at this time," it said.

Like the iPhone, one of Android's key selling features is the mass of third-party applications being created for the platform. The Android market now has 8000 applications for download and the fact that these can be built on open-source technology has made it a popular platform among developers.

Petts said Android applications delivered a unique level of depth, integrating tightly with functions such as cameras and maps, exemplified by the popular Sky Maps application, which can locate a position using the GPS to map out constellations visible from a particular location.

But interesting applications may not be enough to win over the mainstream smartphone market, Robin Simpson, a research director at Gartner, said.

"Success in the smartphone market is all about usablity and cool design. Google doesn't control the hardware so if phone makers don't come up with the good designs, that will make the platform less attractive."

Samsung's Google phone ready for September launch in Australia

Samsung, the world's second largest maker of mobile phones, threw its weight behind Google's nascent Android platform today and unveiled the first handset capable of recording high-definition video.

The South Korean manufacturer today announced four new touchscreen phones for the Australian market under a new range dubbed "Icon".

The Google-powered model, the Samsung Galaxy, will go on sale in September. It features a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 8GB of built-in memory, Wi-Fi, a 5-megapixel camera and easy access to a suite of Google online applications including Gmail, Google search, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google Talk and YouTube.

As with the BlackBerry and iPhone platforms, Google phone users can expand the functionality of the device by installing applications from the "Android Market" - similar to the iTunes App Store.

Tyler McGee, Samsung Australia's VP of mobiles, said he believed Android would be "one of the key platforms that we'll continue to develop".

"People are becoming far more aware of Android and more importantly the Android Market," he said.

The Galaxy will be the third Google phone to hit the Australian market. The first, the HTC Dream, went on sale in February, while the sleeker HTC Magic hit the market this month.

Mark Novosel, telecommunications analyst at IDC, would not reveal exact sales numbers for the Dream but said "it would be fair to say that it performed below expectations".

He said the device itself wasn't as attractive as other models on the market and the pricing plans offered by the exclusive carrier, Optus, were prohibitively expensive.

Novosel said he believed the Android platform would gain more of a foothold with Samsung's entry into the market as he believed consumers were waiting for more Google phone options.

"People are still waiting for the bugs to be ironed out on the platform ... because it's not just a new device, it's a whole new platform we're talking about," he said.

Also available in September, the Samsung HD includes an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording videos at the high-definition resolution of 1280x720. The Symbian phone, which includes a built-in FM radio, GPS, compass and up to 16GB of internal memory, can be connected to a TV set for watching recordings on a big HD screen.

The other two handsets Samsung unveiled today were the Samsung Preston and the Samsung OMNIA, both available in August. The Preston is a mass-market device with a 2.8-inch screen, 3-megapixel camera and FM radio, while the Omnia is an all-in-one multimedia phone that uses the Windows Mobile operating system.

McGee could not reveal prices, saying Samsung was still in discussions with carriers.

Overseas, Samsung also unveiled its first commercially available solar-powered handset, the E1107, which generates between five and ten minutes of talk time from every hour in the sun. McGee said the company was now evaluating whether to launch it in Australia.

Australia: Get ready for next-gen Google phone

htc magic Australia



The second-generation Google phone will go on sale in Australia from the middle of next month, with a sleeker design and updated features aimed squarely at the iPhone's youth market.

The HTC Magic, based on Google's Android platform, is the successor to the HTC Dream, which went on sale in February as the first Google phone for the Australian market.

Vodafone and Three said they would be selling white and black versions of the Magic, respectively, from the middle of June.

Three, the only carrier to reveal pricing plans so far, will offer the device on a range of plans including for free on a $99 a month contract. Adding on 3GB of data for web browsing, the 3G phone can be had for just under $120 a month.

In the new device, the slide-out keyboard of the Dream is replaced by an on-screen virtual keyboard, similar to the iPhone. Its curved design fits the hand better than the Dream's square, angular chassis.

The Magic also contains several new features such as an updated operating system, video recording, longer battery life, better web browser with flash support and updated Bluetooth A2DP connectivity that allows users to stream music to a wireless headset.

As with the BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and iPhone platforms, Google phone users can expand the functionality of the device by installing applications from the "Android Market" - similar to the iTunes App Store.

There are 3200 free and paid-for applications to choose from, but so far Australians can only access the free apps. HTC's sales and marketing director, Anthony Petts, said the ability to buy apps would be coming to Australia "soon".

Telsyte mobile analyst Warren Chaisatien said the suite of third-party applications on the Android platform was "amazing" but without the marketing clout and brand presence of Apple the Google phone would have trouble toppling the iPhone.

"I don't think it will take hold rapidly ... it's going to be a niche product," he said.

Conversely, Three's director of sales and marketing, Noel Hamill, said the response to the HTC Magic had been "phenomenal" and hundreds of people had pre-registered to buy the handset.

The phone also comes preloaded with a suite of Google online applications including Gmail, Google search, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google Talk and YouTube. YouTube has been redesigned to be speedy and intuitive on a mobile screen, while, with Google Maps Street View, users can pan the view 360 degrees just by moving around with the phone.

The Google Latitude app lets users broadcast their current location to approved friends and family.

Other noteable apps available through the Android market include Wikitude (point the phone at landmarks and it will tell identify them and provide a description), Sky Map (for finding constellations), "near you" (find bars, restaurants, cinemas and cafes around you) and Buddy Runner (monitor exercise and daily calorie intake).

"The typical user is the youth user, the online user ... who wants that simple and integrated access," said Potts.

The Magic's 3.2 megapixel camera lacks a built-in flash, but GPS and Wi-Fi are both included and the 3.2-inch touch screen is similar to the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen.

G1 Released in Australia today

The Google Phone, widely touted as the first serious rival to the highly successful Apple iPhone, launches on the Australian market today.

Made by Taiwanese electronics company HTC and dubbed the Dream, it is the first and so far only smartphone in the world to use Android, an open-source computer-style operating system, built by Google and based on Linux.

The Dream is a quad-band touch-screen GSM 3G phone fitted with WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS capabilities, a 3-megapixel camera and a single USB port but no 3.5 millimetre headphone jack.

A microSD card of up to 8gigabytes can be fitted. Software includes a web browser based on Google's Chrome application.

Bundled features include access to YouTube, Google Maps, including Street View, a music player, instant messaging and email.

It is so far being sold exclusively in Australia by Optus.

Telstra says it has not yet decided whether or not to include the HTC Dream in its range. "We continue to consider how an Android-based phone might fit," spokesman Martin Barr said.

Like the iPhone, the HTC Dream is essentially a handheld computer that can also make phone calls, seen as primarily a consumer device and not a competitor for the BlackBerry in the corporate market.

"These days it is not just about the technology but about making it simpler and easier for the end user," says HTC Australia's marketing director, Anthony Petts. "There are now so many things you can do with your phone; people now use it just as they use their PC."

Some reviewers have gushed about the Android phone, others criticise its angular form and say it needs more work before it matches the iPhone.

They also point to rumours that a new, more capable iPhone will arrive about mid-year, said to have a body carved from a single block of aluminium, GPS navigation, 32GB of on-board storage, a removable battery and, possibly, a lower sale price.

For Google and Apple, as well as mobile phone network operators, the core of the smartphone market is not voice calls but software applications.

Rank	Phone	Product	Price /month	Included Value	Estimated Usage	Min. Total Cost (over 24 months)
1		Optus Online Store $79 Internet Cap + Unlimited Text	$92	$550		$2,118 Save $100
2		Optus $79 Internet Cap + Unlimited Text	$92	$550		$2,218
3		Optus Online Store $59 Internet Cap	$110	$350		$2,600 Save $50
4		Optus $59 Internet Cap	$110	$350		$2,650
5		Optus Online Store $99 'yes' Timeless Internet Plan	$123	Unlimited		$2,861 Save $100
6		Optus $99 'yes' Timeless Internet Plan	$123	Unlimited		$2,961
7		Optus Online Store $129 'yes' Timeless Internet Plan	$132	Unlimited		$3,078 Save $100
8		Optus $129 'yes' Timeless Internet Plan	$132	Unlimited		$3,178

HTC G1 coming to Australia

After several false starts, the first Google-powered mobile phone - HTC's Dream - will go on sale in Australia on Optus post-paid plans from the middle of this month.

But the Dream, sold overseas as the G1, could be rendered obsolete before it even arrives as a US telco executive has said a successor would be launched overseas "in the coming weeks and months".

It also faces tough competition from Apple's iPhone, which has similar features but a more elegant design, analysts say.

The 3G touch-screen device has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-megapixel camera and the ability to synchronise email, calendar, contacts and documents stored on Google's suite of online applications in realtime.

The phone, based on the Google Android operating system, will initially only be available on plans from Optus starting on February 16.

Exact details of the plans have yet to be announced but there will be four plans, starting at $59 a month, while monthly data allowances will range from 500MB to 3GB. Customers will be locked into two-year contracts.

Last year, Melbourne consumer electronics maker Ruslan Kogan made waves when he announced his brand, Kogan, would begin selling the first Android-powered phone by Christmas. The launch was pushed back until January 29 but, on January 16, Kogan announced he was aborting the release, citing "potential future interoperability issues".

The Dream, sold in the US and Britain since October last year, is the only Android phone on the market today. The Australian launch will be the first time an Android device has been sold in the Asia-Pacific region.

But other manufacturers including Motorola, Lenovo, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have all announced plans to begin selling phones based on the Google operating system this year.

While Optus is the first Australian telco to take a punt on Android, Telstra appears to be cool on the idea.

In a recent interview with CNET News.com, Telstra chief executive Sol Trujilo said the company was looking at testing Android but so far it "isn't at the stage where it's really robust".

"It's still in evolution right now. It's very Google-centric. And there are limitations. We are hopeful that it will be more open, because it offers a great alternative operating platform. But it's not there today," he said.

Meanwhile, loss-making handset maker Motorola announced during its fourth-quarter earnings call this week that it was shifting its focus from the Windows Mobile platform to Android. It will unveil its first Android-powered device in the second quarter of this year.

Like the iPhone with its App Store, the G1 supports third-party applications that can be accessed for free on the device from the Android Market. Analysts have predicted that the Google platform might have trouble attracting software developers because, unlike Apple's App Store, Google doesn't allow them to charge for accessing applications.

The phone also comes preloaded with a suite of Google online applications including Gmail, Google search, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google Talk and YouTube. YouTube has been redesigned to be speedy and intuitive on a mobile screen, while, with Google Maps Street View, users can pan the view 360 degrees just by moving around with the phone.

Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said she believed "demand for the G1 will be much lower than for the iPhone", which she said had a more "sleek" and "iconic" design. But she said the G1's tight integration with Google services such as Street View was a unique selling point.

"The phone will provide a taste of what the Android platform is capable of, but we expect teething issues and some limitations," Milanesi said.

"The main challenge for Google and its manufacturing partners will be to come up with interesting devices with a very good UI [user interface] and accompanying services that appeal to consumers."

But the G1 could already be obsolete by the time Australians pull it out of the box. T-Mobile's senior VP of engineering and operations, Neville Ray, said in a recent interview with Fierce Wireless that more G-series Google phones would be launched "in the coming weeks and months".