T-Mobile's CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering -- plus a few details you might have missed

While there was a flurry (actually, a full on snowstorm) of news today about the G1, there's a few bits of info you might not have heard, largely because no one is reporting them. We had a chance to speak with T-Mobile CTO Cole Brodman after the event today, and he had some illuminating -- and frankly refreshing -- takes on some of our more pressing questions. When asked about what T-Mobile's reaction would be to users creating tethering or unlocking apps for the phone, he was surprisingly even-keeled, noting that while the company didn't encourage the practice, they wouldn't lock down the OS or update the software to break those applications. Our impression was that as long as their use was relegated to a small percentage of owners, T-Mobile likely wouldn't take action, though he did voice concerns over tethering apps and their effect on the network, with a clearly guarded eye to letting users have free reign. More interestingly, buyers would be able to have access to a "contract free" G1 (with a price point of $399), and could unlock the device with T-Mobile's blessing after 90 days. Brodman also said that the company's policy of unlocking phones for customers in good standing wouldn't change for this phone.

Another feature we got a more in-depth look at was the phone's copy and paste functionality. While it seems to be mainly connected to use of the trackball (you use a key press / trackball gesture to select text), you can't just grab any text -- it has to be from an editable text box. However, the browser is capable of detecting phone numbers and email addresses, and will allow you to grab that text and move to contacts. This would probably all be slightly more alarming if it weren't for the fact that Google is allowing developers to code extensions and add-ons for specific apps as well as system-wide functions, leading us to believe that it won't take very long before someone implements a more robust copy and paste scenario.

Besides the lack of a headphone jack, there's no included video application (there is a free player available to download), and there's an 8GB limit on storage space -- though according to our main man Ryan Block, the device is spec'd for microSDHC cards, thus allowing capacities up to 32GB. The G1 still doesn't present many syncing options, and there's certainly no iTunes love here (much to the chagrin of at least one industry analyst) -- you're pretty much stuck in the Google / T-Mobile / Amazon ecosystems.

T-Mobile almost seems to be positioning itself as the anti-Apple in the smartphone game. It's not an unusual move given their position in the market right now, but the fact that the company's CTO is willing to admit that the answer to the unlocking or tethering questions aren't as cut and dry as the folks in Cupertino have painted things is somewhat heartening to hear. Now let's just see if they can stick to that live-and-let-live attitude in the storm they're likely about to weather once the G1 hits store shelves.

[bob harris @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:39PM]

yikes!

[Knives_Out @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:57PM]

Does anyone really care about an unlocked G1 at this point?

T-Mobile execs seem rather silly with their delusions of having some sort of iPhone type craze/clamor over this disappointing phone.

[fred @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:05PM]

They offered a solid alternative to what is available.

Dont like the G1? It isnt like Android is only going to be available for this one phone only. Only idiots tie a phone OS to one handset.......Oops.

And with the flexibility that this is supposed to bring to programmers, anyone can craft their own, i suppose, distro of it and make it as cool as you can want it to be.

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:06PM]

@Knives_Out

I do.I actually like ATT and their service is pretty good in my area.So now that I know this,I'll totally be getting this.

[vijay @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:07PM]

Yup, not a value for anything deal!!!

-

[Knives_Out @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:29PM]

I didn't say anything about the OS.

OS good (so far), G1 bad.

[Mike @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:48PM]

@KO: Explain how this phone is bad? I would like a more elaborate reasoning why you think this phone is such a fail?

Granted, there hasn't been quite the iPhone hype about this product (I have an iPhone by the way), but I would like to hear your reasoning for making yourself sound like an idiot... Or just is it just insanity?

[Knives_Out @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:10PM]

all hype no substance mike. the OS is the only saving grace of this phone. OBVIOUSLY, there are some people out there who will like this phone, but I won't settle for this ugly half-a$$ offering from tmo.

Perhaps I'm not the only insane person here, if you've managed to read beyond the first few comments, you'll see many disappointed people.

[alexmueller @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:41PM]

Seems like you have an "Axe" to grind with T-Mobile Knives_Out. While I'm sure T-mobile had some say in it, HTC made the phone take it up with them. While the phone isn't the prettiest, I don't really care it's a phone. I'm not entering it into a beauty contest. It has a big screen with a slide out keyboard. If you don't want it don't get it. Continue to make out with your sexy apple products.

[billy bob thorton @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:17PM]

anyone know why they are charging $399 with a $100 instant discount instead of the stated price? (current customer)

Also anyone know if they plan on selling unactivated units? I'd like to see how well it works over tzones ($5.99). I use tzones with an E61 and it works great.

I'd rather pay full price for the phone than get ripped off on a plan I don't need or want (text msgs).

[bachviet @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:41PM]

With the 1GB-data-throttling-to-EDGE/GPRS-cap, tethering is useless.

[GON @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:42PM]

Yep.

[Clayfoot @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:54PM]

It's not all that useful untethered, either.

[john @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:14PM]

Agreemsg.

It's not even useful to buy it unlocked to use on AT&T, because it doesn't support AT&T's UMTS network.

The 1GB data cap makes this phone and its plan(s) an EPIC FAIL.

[deyanimay @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:33PM]

Look on the bright side, when 3g comes out in the highly populated cities most users will switch over and then edge will be faster with less users and hopefully cheaper.

[jmikelittle @ Sep 24th 2008 12:06PM]

I use my HTC Touch every day on an unlimited data plan by Bell. At my highest usage I reached 1gb a month. I am surprised they set 1gb as a soft cap, but at the same time, I doubt it would affect me or most of their users. This is hardly an epic fail, but I guess as a Canadian I've come to think that data is more expensive then gold.

[iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:43PM]

The first thing on the T-Mo list is to ban unlocking and tethering Apps...

[mike @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:47PM]

Did you even real the article?

[Andrew @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:52PM]

Did you even proof-real your comment before posting?

[iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:54PM]

So some article says some suit says they will not ban unocking/tethering Apps and you believe that?...

Oh man the level of BS that comes out of rep's mouth is as bad as the device price...

should be $0 on a 2 year...

[Eddie @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:56PM]

Sadly I believe it more than I believe anything you type.

[Knives_Out @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:00PM]

I agree. Total BS answer from Tmo right now. How can you expect the truth coming from them right now?

They're going to go huddle up in their boardroom later on and backtrack on this one.

[Sir John @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:00PM]

@iEye
You sir, are a idiot.

[iEye @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:10PM]

"an idiot"

[Mikey @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:20PM]

Also "a douchebag"

[fh @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:28PM]

There's a reason T-mobile's customer service is ranked much higher than AT&T's.

Here's a hint: it involves its reps not spewing this so-called BS you claim to be hearing.

[erhan @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:28PM]

@ ieye

Please, oh please, for the love of God!

stop leaving comments.
all the comments you leave are stupid and every time I read them, I lose brain cell count.

[Geoff Gibson @ Sep 24th 2008 4:48AM]

@iEye

Gee... I wonder if you should happen to be an Apple fanboy.

People like you are completely and utterly hopeless.

[Pavan @ Sep 24th 2008 9:18AM]

Too bad he wasn't "An hero..."

[josearoldan @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:43PM]

Is it true that even after unlocking it cant be used on AT&T because the 3G frequency is not the same as TMobile's? If they are right, at least it can be used on EDGE right?

[redringofdeath @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:52PM]

It's quad band gsm, so you can use edge on any gsm network. However, the device only supports Tmobile's AWS 3G which isn't used by anyone else. So no 3G on AT&T. But don't worry, even AT&T users can't access their 3G network.

[Maciek @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:08PM]

One additional comment.... It also supports European (a.k.a. the rest of the World) 2100 frequency.

[boolean22 @ Sep 24th 2008 1:32AM]

Not really. See, the Uploading it's done by 1700Mhz frequency, so there IS an european edition that can do both on 2100Mhz.

T-Mobile's 3G is NOT portable to any other carrier/country.

[FLan @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:43PM]

Did he say anything about the 1GB data bandwidth threshold?

[m.carroll @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:44PM]

Good for T-Mobile. Doing things that Apple should have done. As an AT&T customer, the blind loyalty to the iPhone, while being an intelligent marketing move, has proven to be more of a restrictive burden to its non-iPhone customers. I have not, and will not convert to an iPhone because I like the free reign and customizability of HTC/WinMo phones. That being said, I wont switch to T-Mobile, because you cant even compare their 3G the AT&T 3G network. But seriously, good for T-Mobile. Investors and customers (and soon to be G1 users) should rejoice.

[phanbouy @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:48PM]

talk is cheap

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:04PM]

So let's say you just bought the cell phone contract free.
is that whole 90 day thing 90 days with a plan on the phone or having owned the cell itself for 90 days without a plan before it can be unlocked?

[7on @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:14PM]

You have to be a good standing t-mo customer.

[Anand D @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:24PM]

I used to be a tmo customer. They used to unlock phones even if you are on a contract that hasn't expired. tmo treats theirs customers well. If only they had good network coverage where I live now.

[fistpittingnork @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:46PM]

Did he mention where the shit a white one can be found?

[phanbouy @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:50PM]

always wanted to ask this but what is a fistpittingnork and what does it have to do with saved by the bell?

[bachviet @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:51PM]

At launch (October 22nd)

[omoks @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:49PM]

I noticed that during the conference the refrained from using iPhone and referred to it as the competition. Made good sense though. No point in overshadowing your own device. I think Android has a lot of hope, however I'm pretty sure the boys at Microsoft have nothing to worry about for a couple years.

Today was just the door opening for Android, it's gonna be a while before those so called limitless apps start rolling in.

[img eL @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:50PM]

$399 "contract free" G1 unlock after 90 days?

[dukrous @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:58PM]

No...$399 upfront for contract free. Or after 90 days, you can unlock the phone but still be under contract.

[kjb434 @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:58PM]

That's CHEAP compared to WinMO, Blackberry, S60 based smartphones. True, non-touchscreen WiMo's are cheaper, but limited.

The fact that they will unlock it for you after 90days is a nice gesture.

Other carriers that you buy a phone out of contract is still not unlocked in the US. You have to unlock it.

[img eL @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:08PM]

So the "contract free" G1 comes unlocked? If you sign up for a 2yr contract t-mobile will unlock it after 90 days but you'll still be under contract?

[deyanimay @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:24PM]

He probably means you have to buy it for 399 and then have either a contract with t-mobile or flexpay for 3 months before you can unlock it.

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:31PM]

seriously...wtf. i didn't get that when i read it either. "Hey you can pick up this free couch that i dont use anymore for $25 bucks"...okay thanks man

[patsy @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:29PM]

I don't get their pricing. I'm a current customer and should qualify for an upgrade (around 18mo since my last phone), but on their new site this is what I get:

T-Mobile G1™ Black

* Touch Screen
* QWERTY keyboard
* One-click Google Search*
* Real Web browsing capabilities*

G1™ Black detailsG1™ Black details
Back to top Back to top

With 2 year
extension

Upgrade
price: $399.99
Online
Discount: ($100.00)
Total: $299.99

Where the hell is the $179.99 price?! I was about to pre-order it, but at that price, forget it!