T-Mobile to sell Dream starting late October, sez WSJ

Lining up nicely with most (but not all) of what we've been hearing, the Wall Street Journal is spouting off about some "people familiar with the matter" who are claiming that the Android-christening Dream will go on sale late in the month of October. What's more, these same folks say that we can expect a formal announcement about the worst kept secret in Seattle on September 23, though exact pricing is yet to be determined. That would leave about a month for anticipation -- "Dream Fever," if you will -- to build to a nice, rolling boil, which is important considering rumors that HTC looks to push somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 Dreams before the year's out. Assuming the sticker shock is kept to a minimum, there's only one question left to be answered: white, black, or brown?

[MastrCake @ Sep 16th 2008 3:10AM]

Can't wait to try to get past the bombardment of humans at the tmo store just to try this thing out...

[GON @ Sep 16th 2008 3:17AM]

The Dream looks okay but, is it the only Android handset that will be available at launch? Isn't there anything else?

[ntlam @ Sep 16th 2008 3:18AM]

Dream seller... ;-)

[Vieteddy @ Sep 16th 2008 3:28AM]

Is it going to be 3G?

[Grant T Martin @ Sep 16th 2008 9:04AM]

I would think it has to be. Wouldnt that be a step in the wrong direction if they christened android with a phone that could only do EDGE?

[rickjamess @ Sep 16th 2008 10:06AM]

@Grant T Martin repla

Replace "android with a phone" with iPhone and isn't that what apple did? I agree with your point that would be stupid, but don't let the apple fanbois know their company would release an inferior product at launch only to rerelease the version that should have come out originally shortly after.

[Muhammed @ Sep 16th 2008 3:29AM]

BLACK!!

[TareX @ Sep 16th 2008 3:40AM]

Black is by far the best, if this prototype reference design is really the final Dream product.

But looking at what HTC has done so far, I don't think this phone, important as it is, will look like a bar of soap.

[Jonathan Ziemer @ Sep 16th 2008 3:52AM]

Don’t they tend to usually launch lower to mid-range unit's in multiple colors rather than the higher end more feature rich phones? It just seems to keep the integrity of a phone that's more expensive when the focus is on what you're getting and design rather than the colors. Could this be breeding for something more ambitious? my sister's ex's brother's mom's aunt's niece heard something really special is coming not referring to the dream. could be to tocco (taco? is that how u say it?) but MAYBE POSSIBLY wouldn't it be sweet if it was the Touch HD? I'm just trying to connect some imaginary dots here

[derX @ Sep 16th 2008 3:57AM]

I'm really curious to see their market campaign, because I honestly don't see how they plan to push that many devices. Of course we all know the great potential for Android devices, but I have NEVER heard anyone beyond the tech world, i.e., the average consumer, speak of this device.

At all.

I guess the 600-700k devices are a world-wide goal, which, I guess, is a lot more attainable. Also, I honestly don't see what qualms people are having with the design. To me it looks like a harmonious adjoining of a Sidekick and . But in a good way. I'd use* one. Regardless, I really hope this phone surpasses expectation as much as us geeks are hailing it as the second coming.

*Note- I certainly did not say buy one.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 16th 2008 7:01AM]

derX,

I agree with your points in part; I think that the number of people who were aware of the iPhone was relatively small too, outside of the tech community. My thinking is something like this:

1. They will perform a relatively small launch with the Dream in Oct.
2. Test it out amongst the users that do buy it.
3. Jan / Feb 2009, blam ! ... several Diamond/Touch Pro/other manufacturers will go live amid some fan fare.

They certainly don't want or need the fiasco that Apple has worked themselves into. They sell enough devices right now.

[abdul.umer @ Sep 16th 2008 2:02PM]

I have to agree with you there, I'm a T-mobile rep and I have at least 2 people a day coming in asking to see "Dat HTC white iphone phone." I think the word is out there and it's spreading. how though? I'm just as lost as you are on that one.

[blitzkrieg999 @ Sep 16th 2008 3:57AM]

Unless they've been deceiving us intentionally and the Dream will actually look completely different, HTC's own phones (especially the new Touch HD) put the Dream in the junk pile before it even launches

[blitzkrieg999 @ Sep 16th 2008 4:00AM]

(God could this commenting system work any worse?)

Unless HTC has been deceiving us this entire time, and the phone ends up looking nothing like what we've seen so far, HTC's own phones (especially the Diamond and Touch HD) will blow the Dream out of the water before it even launches

[snworf @ Sep 16th 2008 4:22AM]

This one will be a flash-in-the-pan. To far away from anything standard, and standards-wise, the market is a bit flooded right now for some new OS to emerge. Sort of reminds me of the old Atari-ST line of computers :) A fun diversion for some hobbyists...

[Septimus @ Sep 16th 2008 6:36AM]

This is one hideous phone. The OS won't be worth the hype either. Not until at least it's third iteration.

[Ricardo @ Sep 16th 2008 6:45AM]

That's the ugliest phone I have seen in quite a while.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 16th 2008 7:04AM]

Ricardo,

You should read through your own posts; have noticed how sarcastic they all are ?
Have you picked up this phone ? Have you held it ? What did you think of the slider action - it is different isn't it ?

Are you sure that your dis-like does not stem from a dis-like of leopard skin ?

[andrew @ Sep 16th 2008 11:12AM]

the guy has a point it looks no good, its trying to compete with a shiny new iPhone, put the two side by side and in looks the iPhone has it. Only us techies will see wether andriod has what it takes... i hope it does!

[taylor @ Sep 16th 2008 7:45AM]

i dont care what it looks like just release it already damn! ive been waiting for months. i though preordering started the 17th of sept but thats changed now too i think. i keep seeing the 23rd now? so is it 23 or 17?

[Demios @ Sep 16th 2008 9:12AM]

Man, it's ugly, I don't see any other android phones on the horizon though and I'm stuck having to get this. Functionality > looks though.

[substance90 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:28AM]

Functionality > looks all the way! I just need to know if it will have enough space to use it as my main portable media player.

[gruv2ths @ Sep 16th 2008 11:07AM]

To tell you the truth, HTC phones kinda all have a certain look. The dream is not really inline with that look. I for one hope t-mo has not leaked it all out yet, and there is something sexier in store for us.

[Paul @ Sep 16th 2008 11:19AM]

If only it wasn't on T-Mobile. Any word of android sets for any other networks?

[jonathan hirschman @ Sep 16th 2008 11:54AM]

First: I want one in brown, so I can throw off the maximal geek vibe with this thing.

I predict that the first Android phone is going to be a critic's darling, but fail at the retail level. It won't be enough like an iPhone to appeal to people. It won't have any status attached to it. And like Windows Mobile, there won't be any good marketing for it.

In other words, this phone will not be seen as a fetish item. That will only happen for phones that have some semblance of marketing behind them and/or are iPhone clones.

That being said, I also predict that whoever gets one is going to have extremely high love and satisfaction for the device.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 16th 2008 12:06PM]

If the price-without-contract is under $500, I'm sold.

[biglou @ Sep 17th 2008 4:17PM]

i'd like the doodoo brown color please

[C. Mitchell @ Sep 25th 2008 3:06AM]

I-phone is way better. The dream is not even a contender.

The Instinct is even better.

And the new Blackberry Storm blows it away.

Besides, T-Mobile offers lousy service. Believe me, I got the Sidekick thinking it was way cool at the time. The phone sucks, and T_Mobile sucks both by customer service, and reception.