T-Mobile G1 Hits 1 Million Sold

The Google Android mobile OS has helped T-Mobile sell one million T-Mobile G1 smartphones, the first device to hit the market featuring the open-source OS.

In an earnings call, Deutsche Telecom said that its U.S. subsidiary T-Mobile USA had sold one million G1s since it hit the market six months ago.

Currently, T-Mobile is the country's fourth-largest wireless carrier, with more than 32 million customers. The carrier launched the HTC-built T-Mobile G1 in October 2008. The handheld runs on T-Mobile's 3G network, which the network operator is working to broaden beyond the 107 million customers it currently reaches.

The G1 marked the first publicly available device to run Google Android, and G1-maker HTC has so far been the only game in town when it comes to Android, with new devices in the works based on the open-source OS.

Since the launch of the G1, a host of other smartphone makers have staked a claim to Android, with powerhouses such as Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson all saying they intend to add Android-based devices to their rosters sometime this year. Rumors also are circulating that some computer makers, including Hewlett-Packard, are planning to build netbooks around Android.

T-Mobile, too, is looking to broaden the reach of Android. Earlier this month, T-Mobile told The New York Times that it is planning "several devices" based on Android. According to the report, those devices will include a new home phone and a new tablet, both running Google Android.

Word of 1 million G1s being sold also comes as the Android platform preps for its first major update. The "cupcake" update, also known as Android 1.5, is expected to add a host of new features not available in the current software, including an on-screen virtual keyboard, video recording and playback, and stereo Bluetooth. Other additions include user-interface updates such as animated window transitions, accelerometer-based application rotation and home-screen widgets. Browser enhancements also are expected in the update.

In anticipation of the update, Android has launched a preview version of the Software Development Kit for Android 1.5, allowing developers to test drive the new platform, which doesn't yet have a firm release date.

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