What will it take for T-Mobile to release Android this October 1 2008
July 9, 2008 by Jayvee Fernandez
Filed under Cell phone
If I were to choose another title for this post, it would go something like “T-Mobile to scrap all its branded bundled applications to pave the way for Android.”
Yes, folks. This is the dream that will soon be a reality. In time for US 3G this October 1, T-Mobile hopes to launch their first Android phone (most likely a HTC device) in 3 months. From what they are experiencing, T-Mobile is having a hard time integrating its telco-branded apps, most of which by experience aren’t really useful, into Android. This brings about a funny tautology as Android is supposed to be the next big open source operating system, supposedly easy to program for.
*shrugs*
Nothing in the Android licence prevents an operator from launching a locked-down handset unable to download new applications beyond Java Midlets or similar. None of the LiMo handsets so far launched are able to download native applications, despite all being based on that “open” version of Linux. Releasing an Android handset that can’t download applications might go against the spirit of the Open Handset Alliance, but it would give T-Mobile that “first Android handset” headline, and most punters wouldn’t care anyway.
Well, to live the dream, compromises have to be made, and yes I’m betting that Android will make its debut with T-Mobile this October 1 2008.
