Just like the current mystery device, both of those handsets:
- are made by HTC,
- are unlocked GSM handsets,
- are sold directly to individuals by Google,
- and have been given out to Google employees at all-hands meetings.
And Google was directly involved in the design of the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1 / Android Dev Phone 1). For example, they pushed for the debut Android phone to have a five-row keyboard: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10387677-265.html
So none of the concrete facts here (even the rumored ones) are unprecedented. I don't see how Google selling a yet another unlocked handset is a big deal. It certainly won't have a noticeable impact on the US market, competing with subsidized hardware sold by carriers. Just like the ADP1 (T-Mobile G1) and ADP2 (T-Mobile myTouch 3G), carriers will probably have locked version of the exact same phone but at subsidized prices. The ADP is nice for some techies, but for most mainstream US consumers it doesn't make sense to pay for an unlocked phone.
Subsidized phones do not need to be locked to one carrier. In most of Europe most of the phones (with contracts) are not. The subsidy is protected by the contract period.
Just like the current mystery device, both of those handsets:
- are made by HTC,
- are unlocked GSM handsets,
- are sold directly to individuals by Google,
- and have been given out to Google employees at all-hands meetings.
And Google was directly involved in the design of the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1 / Android Dev Phone 1). For example, they pushed for the debut Android phone to have a five-row keyboard: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10387677-265.html
So none of the concrete facts here (even the rumored ones) are unprecedented. I don't see how Google selling a yet another unlocked handset is a big deal. It certainly won't have a noticeable impact on the US market, competing with subsidized hardware sold by carriers. Just like the ADP1 (T-Mobile G1) and ADP2 (T-Mobile myTouch 3G), carriers will probably have locked version of the exact same phone but at subsidized prices. The ADP is nice for some techies, but for most mainstream US consumers it doesn't make sense to pay for an unlocked phone.