T-Mobile
sold right out of its original allotment of
G1 pre-orders quick, fast and in a hurry, and even the
second round has been claimed in a flash. What's it all mean? It means that someone at T-Mobile and Google are sitting in a fancy restaurant in France sipping on the good stuff, and it also means that 1.5 million G1s have already been reserved for eager early adopters. In addition to that, another couple of million are all set to take the retail scene by storm later this month. In other words, folks are genuinely stoked about the possibilities of
Android, and scads of 'em have already committed to the OS (and HTC's
design, by extension) before even having a chance to toy around with it in person. No pressure at all, Google.
[Via
Pulse2]
posted Oct 12th 2008 1:26AM
Glad to hear it. It sounds like this phone will take off FAR quicker than anyone even expected. I even have to admit that I'm surprised how many have sold considering it isn't even released.
That's awesome news.
We also haven't gotten to the holiday shopping season yet, so the numbers should keep going up.
Well, I've put my name down for one of these and can't wait for them to arrive in UK next month...
yea..
How long did it take apple again? 8 months? lol..
it get's prettier and prettier every time i look at it. now if only i hadn't switched from tmobile to vzw.
g-d's toying with me.
Am an android fan but...1.5 million orders of ugly beta phone?
How fast are they selling? Try this on. On Monday T-mobile released 5000 units to employees to dry run the Shipping system. These were new orders, not pre-orders and by the time I got to my lunch to order mine, they were gone! That was 2 and a half hours after the company wide email was sent out. The first one delivered to my call center were on Wednesday! It usually takes ten days for those orders to get to us.
if only my contract needed a good ol renewal...
I really don't get why people won't buy new phones when they're under contract. They'll spend $500 - $2000 every year on a new laptop or desktop but $279 on something you use every day.... not unless my contract's up so I can save 80 bucks.
watch the phone get released and noone likes it....
you can still get $100 off
iPhone say whaaaaaaaat?
stfu. at least make the ' i ' comments funny dude.
anyways i wanted to say FIRST but its too damn late for that, so i suppose i should put my opinion on the topic.
The phone is a much better suited to older people/business people phone than the Iphone, it has potential. The Xperia is a real young people 16 - 25 type i reckon..
/opinion.
I'd bet quite a lot of these are people who are too stubborn to get an iPhone.
The Apple fanboys don't really make the product very appealing.
@KarlW
That's kind of true for me. If it wasn't for the Apple logo, I probably would have gotten an iPhone by now, but the Apple fanboys really turned me off to it (that and I expected all the kinks to be worked out by 2nd gen but turns out the 2nd gen was worst than the 1st gen, so if I getting an iPhone probably it will be 3rd gen if that one is better).
@KarlW
My sentiments exactly, in fact this would apply to the entire Apple product line.
Jake & --------
You guys don't have a mind of your own? Did you ever think about trying out a product yourselves & not letting a fanboys' wet dream influence your buying decisions? You might be surprised at what you will find if you make your own decision.
This could go both ways. Imagine 1.5 million dissatisfied and angry users if something totally blows about the G1 that they didn't know about till they actually got it in their hands. The backlash could be devastating. As someone who hopes that Android will do great, I'm happy and worried at the same time.
Well... considering T-Mobile has a 30 day return policy on their phones, those 1.5 million people will just return the phones and it won't hurt them. Granted that would devastate t-mobile, google, and HTC, but that's all the more reason why they won't let something like that happen.
I agree. I really hope they can make this OS great to kill off the crap that is Windows mobile. However, they really need to work on optimizing the web browser. No one has been able to emulate the smoothness and responsiveness of iPhone's Safari when panning and zooming a web page, nor have they been able to duplicate the intuitive double-tap zoom feature. If Google can get Chrome working like Safari, I'd look at Android a lot more seriously..
"emulate the smoothness and responsiveness of iPhone's Safari when panning and zooming a web page, nor have they been able to duplicate the intuitive double-tap zoom feature."
Unless you're counting Opera, that is. Admittedly it's about 5% less smooth on the Touch Diamond, but it's pretty good, and it double tap zooms.
"If Google can get Chrome working like Safari, I'd look at Android a lot more seriously"
From what I hear, Chrome is better than Safari, but how is that at all relevant to Android?
Ever tried Netfront or Skyfire? Two winmo browsers which really up the game
Netfront for the smoothness
Skyfire for the full featured browsing.
Opera always seemed to have a problem finding text boxes for me, and I always felt it was inferior to the others
Good to see that not all people go after just the pretty face!
I think it just goes to show that Google has absolutely mind-boggling brand power right now. Arguably on par with Apple. For a company that's not released a single hardware product, that's just amazing. But Android better deliver or this could all come to a sudden halt....
Geez...
it's the Tegra processor chipset... guys it's been shown at MWC in February this year.
It's basically a high-performance GPU+CPU with ultra low-power consumption, capable of playing up to 10 hours of 720pi HD video.... yes it can.
It's the revolutionary chipset NVidia crancked out. Till now, it's designed for Windows CE (6, and 7 to come) usage, but Nvidia isn't excluding other OSes (e.g. Android), but it's just a diplomatic statement. NVidia have confirmed time and again that TEGRA is for WM.
It supports OpenGL ES 2.0, and as you see, seemless multitasking with high-end graphics is a no-big-deal for Tegra. Expect the first devices powered by Tegra to show up early next year.
@Tarex
I don't know if you posted in the wrong place or what.. but the G1 certainly doesn't have use a Tegra chipset..
No it's a wrong post... the one I was replying to was Low Ranked = Invisible in the new brilliant Engadget comment system.
Android having Tegra means someone needs to wake up asap.
@nikster, Google HAVE released hardware products in the past.
the google phone will maybe be the next best "winmo" replacement but that's it.
Sorry but this is the WinMo replacement:
http://blog.laptopmag.com/wow-hands-on-with-nvidia-tegra-prototype-device#more-4613
What is that OS exactly ? Is that some OS Nvidia whipped up? Because from what i understand the Tegra is a chip that could be used in any device.
That's not a phone though. It's an internet device. pretty neat though.. I bet it does Flash
At Holycow...
According to this site:
http://www.nvidia.com/page/handheld.html
They are a Windows Mobile Embeded Partner...conclude what you will.
TareX, the next WinMo replacement is a skinned WinMo? Amazing!
Geez...
it's the Tegra processor chipset... guys it's been shown at MWC in February this year.
It's basically a high-performance GPU+CPU with ultra low-power consumption, capable of playing up to 10 hours of 720pi HD video.... yes it can.
It's the revolutionary chipset NVidia crancked out. Till now, it's designed for Windows CE (6, and 7 to come) usage, but Nvidia isn't excluding other OSes (e.g. Android), but it's just a diplomatic statement. NVidia have confirmed time and again that TEGRA is for WM.
It supports OpenGL ES 2.0, and as you see, seemless multitasking with high-end graphics is a no-big-deal for Tegra. Expect the first devices powered by Tegra to show up early next year.
Konger and O rly, watch the video before making smartass comments. 1) It's a phone. 2) It's anything but a skinned WMo.
There's no device that is capable of even getting close to what Tegra is capable of. Watch the video on the site, first.
http://blog.laptopmag.com/wow-hands-on-with-nvidia-tegra-prototype-device#more-4613
I'd be buying a G1 too if I didn't just renew my contract. Maybe in a year or so I'll be getting the G1 or whatever the latest android model is.
you know you can get it without a contract...right?
I am no apple fanboy, but how does this 1.5 million compare to opening sales of the first iphone?
It's not just an apple dish, but the iPhone was a first gen piece of hardware with basically a first gen mobile OS. G1 and the Android is just about the same sort of concept, first gen hardware and software.
AT&T reported 146k activations on the first weekend of iPhone Sales.
Apple reported 270k of iPhone related sales in the first quarter of availability but this number includes accessories.
http://images.apple.com/pr/pdf/q307data_sum.pdf (warning PDF) Note 6
Judging by this article on gizmodo.com, it took the 1st Gen iPhone almost 4 months to sell 1.5 million units. The G1 did it in less than 3 weeks (without the huge ad campaign).
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone-unlocked/250000-unlocked-iphones-have-been-sold-313741.php
The G1 is just full of WIN. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
Dont all you iPhone owners get tired of updating? I mean, if you have to keep updating something, it means there is definitely something wrong with it. Just admit it.
@Kspraydad
Make sure you add an addendum about the fact that the iPhone was 500-600 dollars at launch and it was only sold in the US.
@ CB17
Is the G1 being sold anywhere besides the US? I don't believe it is.
@Jon
Yes T-Mobile isn't based in the US
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/whats-hot/t-mobile-g1/confirmed/
You make a great point, Adam. As a first generation device, it will be telling to see how well it is supported from all aspects; the carrier, the hardware support, and the software support will be crucial to integration into a user base. Apple and AT&T were well-known providers, but Android (and Google) is still under the radar for most people. I hope they hit this out of the park, because I appreciate having lots of viable systems to choose from.
I had faith in Helio, but now I'm a lost little lamb...
@ CB17,
T-Mobile US i based in the US. This may be seem like splitting hairs, but when it comes to 3G it means a world of difference as they use a completely different frequency than the rest of the US and Europe, so the distinction does matter.
@letstakeawalk
Ummm...did people compare the 1st gen iPhone sales to the 1st gen Windows Mobile phone sales? No, I don't think so. They compared (and continue to compare) the ongoing sales to each other.
@CB17
Keep in mind pre-order is only avaliable to existing US customers of T-mobile right now. You can't pre-order for UK yet. UK doesn't even have a launch date yet I believe.
@Bender
Well of course T-Mobile US is based in the US but, the company started with Dutsche Telecom who both them and T-Mobile UK (who was first). And they're BOTH getting the G1
@Jake
Good point, it doesn't change any of my other above points though.
ah, well I am betting an extension to my contract for this phone, so I hope it isn't a failure.
Overall I am impressed with the amount of sales already generated. But it's a testament to htc's manufacturing to basically have over 3 million units of this handheld ready to hit homes and shelves by next week.
International or not, I believe those are massive numbers, esp with such low general public advertisement.
The crazy thing is that they sold 1.5 million units without much advertising. They don't have the marketing power of Apple, but they did it anyway. Great job. What it needs now is, I'm sorry to say, have an App Store that runs as well as Apple's store, which means developing software that a user is going to want to use not just for the phone, but also for music, videos, and other forms of media. I think that's why Apple products are usually quite good, as many people use iTunes anyway even before purchasing an iPhone. They just plug it in, and the same software they already have open can transfer their music and everything to the phone.
Someone needs to make an application to go with the phone that people are also going to want to use for other stuff.
Now put it into a phone that isn't ugly as sin, and I may buy it. I know looks aren't everything, but I'd rather have functional + pretty rather than just functional.
@CB17
I think people will compare to the first gen iPhone because the timing is close enough and there are many parallels (new platform at the time, touchscreen also, lots of excitement, some doubt whether it will catch on). The first WinMo date is way too far back to compare and WinMo was more of a business OS from the start. iPhone 3G was after everyone already knew what the device was capable of, so there wasn't any doubt about the device.
I still have some doubts about these numbers because they are way over any of the existing projections, but I don't think anyone can say 1.5 million preorders isn't impressive for a phone only avaliable to existing US customers on a smaller carrier (again for the current pre-orders numbers, UK can't pre-order yet), with a totally unproven OS, which many didn't even get a chance to try yet, and with close to no advertisement. Even compared to the iPhone 3g sales (1 million in 3 days is still amazing, but with proven OS, and worldwide launch) it still is pretty good.
@Jake
I'm definitely not down-playing what will obviously be a successful launch for them and it's not like I don't hope to see them succeed. But there's no way that launches which are almost a year and half apart with phones that are over 400 dollars in price difference is even REMOTELY fair. As a matter of fact, it's entirely possible that a lot of the increased demand for the G1 has to do with the what the iPhone has brought to market.
And if you try comparing it to the iPhone 3G launch, keep in mind that not only was Apple constantly running out of phones because of the worldwide launch but also remember that not everyone who wanted a phone day one got one because of all of the activation problems.
So what would be a fair comparison?
1 month's worth of sales for the iPhone 3G vs. 1 month's worth of sales for the G1. Then we'll talk.
@ CB17
Actually looking it over, the price difference is way to big to use original iPhone ($500-$600 as you mentioned) sales numbers for comparison, though there are a lot of parallels between the two. I wonder if anyone has the data for the iPhone 3G, US sales numbers instead worldwide.
@Da_Ereeser:
Keep in mind that the iPhone was $499/$599 at that time. In some cases, you get the G1 for free after it's subsidized. So you can't really compare the two sales figures.
Adam H.,
Apple reported selling 270, 000 in the first fiscal quarter iPhone was available (it was only available for a day and a bit of that quarter - released evening of the June 29, quarter ended June 30). In the next quarter Apple sold 1.1 million devices. Here's some more detail:
Fiscal 2007 third quarter ended June 30, 2007
Quarterly sales: 270,000
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/07/25results.html
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/10/22results.html
Fiscal 2007 fourth quarter ended September 29, 2007
Quarterly sales: 1,119,000
[Sorry, I was going to post direct links but as a 'new reader' I'm apparently only allowed 3 URLs. You can find the Apple press releases with the numbers here:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/]
Fiscal 2008 first quarter ended December 29, 2007
Quarterly sales: 2,315,000
Fiscal 2008 second quarter ended March 29, 2008
Quarterly sales: 1,703,000
Fiscal 2008 third quarter ended June 28, 2008
Quarterly sales: 717,000
Cumulative sales:
Q3 2007: 270,000
Q4 2007: 1,389,000
Q1 2008: 3,704,000
Q2 2008: 5,407,000
Q3 2008: 6,124,000
1.5 million G1s sold at launch would compare very favourably. OTOH, Apple may well have sold more iPhone 3Gs in the quarter just ended than they sold first gen phones in total.
Im just curious though about those iphone numbers. Since Q3 2008 they have been selling a different updated model. How many previous iphones were upgraded by the same people to the latest?
"But there's no way that launches which are almost a year and half apart with phones that are over 400 dollars in price difference is even REMOTELY fair."
It's not Google's fault that Apple wants all your money and that they can give away G1s.
"And if you try comparing it to the iPhone 3G launch, keep in mind that not only was Apple constantly running out of phones because of the worldwide launch but also remember that not everyone who wanted a phone day one got one because of all of the activation problems."
Good job trying to play down the G1 launch by showing how many problems showed up on the iPhone's launch.
John,
The numbers I posted above don't overlap with iPhone 3G sales at all. They only go up to fiscal Q3 2008, which ended June 28; iPhone 3G didn't go on sale until July 11. As to how many iPhone 3G sales were to customers replacing a first gen device, I've no idea, and I haven't seen any survey of buyers that asked the question. Anecdotally, I can say that in the UK I'm seeing lots more 3Gs than I ever saw the first model, but then the first iPhone apparently did quite poorly over here (probably because 3G is pretty much de rigueur).
"Dont all you iPhone owners get tired of updating? I mean, if you have to keep updating something, it means there is definitely something wrong with it. Just admit it"
Yeah, I'm sure Android will be *flawless* out of the gate. Updates will *not* be necessary. It will remain in v1.0 perfection indefinitely.
Good grief, and people gripe about Apple fanboys being irrational?
Man, it seems like you guys are in pain at the sight of another phone doing well.
Consider the pre-sales are out for customers already a part of Tmobile, and doesn't account for newcomers on the 22nd.
Good touchscreen, keyboard, open platform by google, etc etc its bound to be a big winner.. and this is just the first version.
It certainly has plenty of potential, and being open and soon to be adopted by other vendors across many carriers it will easily outsell the iPhone, but the cost is much lower due to much lower specs in all the important areas and the touchscreen and OS is nowhere near that of the current iPhone's capacitance touchscreen and OS. The capacitance touchscreen is under Apple's patent for the next 20 years and the OS will and frameworks will take time to mimic. I have faith Google will come up with a competitive alternative, but it will take some time.
Uh... the G1 has a capacitive touchscreen.
@ DBrim
The G1 doesnt have a multi-touch screen.
Its also missing accelerometers, built in storage anywhere near 8GBs or a standard headphone jack.
It doesnt even have a good selection of apps, people are just hoping that open source means that developers will take the time to make worthwhile apps. Reminds me of Ubuntu, great promise but apps always fall short.
@andrew
It does have an accelerometer, and unlike the iphone, a compass too. This fills in big gaps in data from the accelerometer and gps
it also has multitouch, it just doesn't have software support yet.
Bender,
Patents only last 7 years not 20. The best they could hope for is 14 and that is with a new patent that requires the original patent to work.
Secondly they have a patent on multitouch system they do not own all of the patents or even have a the ability to stop another multitouch screen system from coming out using different patents or technology. After all MS has patents for Multitouch systems as well.
Dell released a capacitive touch screen tablet with multitouch.
Also the G1 is supposed to have a capacitive touch screen as well...Whether it is multitouch or not is up in the air
RIM, Apple and Microsoft do not support Linux connectivity with their mobile devices. As Google's Andoid is based on linux, it's java-based open source applications will work with other operating systems and make it the first "true" mobile device.
If RIM, Apple and Microsoft don't support Linux connectivity to appease Enterprise users any time soon then expect Android to take a large chunk of the business market....
only probem: Linux isn't used anywhere, especially in enterprise solutions. having a mobile phone which supports linux systems is nice, but not many perople will need such a thing. not to forget that Windows Mobile for example allready can be used with linux. you just have to install the right programs.
talking about android bringing the 3G network into place. that only counts for US where the technology is way behind Europe and other places. 3G is allready old over there. the next generation is allready at start and 3G is just the standard for every phone and place. Thats also the reason why many just shake thier head over the G1 just beeing not up to date and looking ugly. :/
I thought the word on the street was that the G1's UI was a bit sluggish, but not as bad as the iPhone.. Are we to believe that this is because of the Java VM? The VM is specifically designed for this CPU so I would think that wouldn't slow it down ...
I can't wait for shakycam......
Still amazes me that engadget and giz were bashing android/g1 so badly just a week or two ago, calling it a failure before it was even launched while riding the iloveappleandeverythingelsesucks bandwagon. Now that sales have shot through the roof, they've suddenly become "genuinely stoked about the possibilities of Android". Do you writers have your own opinions on anything apart from what's the current hot trend?
Besides the notorious video with them complaining about the "choppiness" of the browser compared to the iPhone, Engadget has been really positive about the device and the OS.
If you go back and re-read the articles about the G1, Engadget always did seem pretty excited, if a bit skeptical. Gizmodo on the other hand would not stop bashing it. That's part of the reason I read engadget every day and rarely read Gizmodo. The writing at Engadget is a little bias, but at least they try to keep an open mind, where Gizmodo seems like a bunch of apple fanboys constantly and are much less professional.
Gadgets change, opinions change, features and prices change. This is a daily blog and I can understand if people get excited about something new. It's like a river of cool gizmos floating by us every day: new things happen. I don't remember people dissing Android; I remember people dissing the G1 - it's not the best Android device to come. I try not to confuse this device with the Android OS.
Turning the mirror to you... What if this G1 sucks? Will you admit that in a future post? Will you remember how excited you were about something you hadn't used yet, and admit that you confused preorders with 'sales shooting through the roof'?
Way to go STEVE,
Block more apps!
Block more apps!
Block more apps!
1.5 million sounds like an insane amount.
I can't work out where the number comes from. Engadget links to PULSE2.0:
http://pulse2.com/2008/10/10/google-android-15-million-t-mobile-htc-g1s-have-been-pre-sold/
and PULSE2.0 links to MotleyFool:
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2008/10/09/google-were-fresh-out-of-androids.aspx
but the MotleyFool article doesn't cite any source at all (that I can see).
I want this to be true but I dont think it is...
From the Fool article... their logic is as follows.
1) Initial pre-order batch sold out.
2) T-Mobile tripled their pre-order batch, which also sold out
3) T-Mobile expected to sell 500 thousand G1s in 2008
Somehow (3) leads to the initial batch of pre-orders being 500 thousand and, thus, triple would be 1.5 million G1s. Theres the fallacy. Just because they expected to sell that much, doesnt mean they would have that much ready at launch. Does anyone have a source on the amount of G1s T-Mobile initially ordered?
This phone sucks, I don't understand why there is so much behind it
So, you've used it, then? What didn't you like?
How about its a joke?
You can't get any real work done on a touch screen keyboard period. That alone is more than enough reason not to like the iPhone. Sure, there might be some cool apps, and touch screens are find for menu selection (I love my P2).
When it comes to texting/writing an email/etc its beyond epic fail and any honest, poster without bias will agree.
I am really quite impress that G1 is doing well even before it officially launches on the 22nd. It has lots of potential and I personally, want it to succeed badly.
All I am hoping for now is to be able to port Android to the HTC Touch HD along with availability of killer apps in the Android Market. That would be an awesome device.
This is easy apple fan-gals; google>>apple in brand and product...therefore 1.5x10^6 preorders actually == disappointment
Anyone else notice that fool.com doesn't actually cite any sources?
fool.com
no sources cited...
Yeah I don't think that 1.5 million number is "accurate", unless 1.5 million tech savvy T-mobile (not among the big three carriers) users with expired contracts exist.
Don't get me wrong I WANT it to be true.
All this buzz is great but I hope the Android platform doesn't suffer the fate of Linux. The very thing that makes Linux great- its diversity and flexibility, is the very thing that is hindering its widespread adoption among the general public. There are so many variants of Linux, different looks, interfaces, problems with drivers, why would most people bother switching when Windows/OS X works for them? Once people start loading up all kinds of software on their G1, can Google/Open Handset Alliance ensure that the phone isn't going to be crashing left and right? What about security, ease of use, consistency of the user interface?
Very few people are partial to a mobile operating system. As are very few people partial to a desktop operating system. People use what they buy on it period. Besides the tech savy users nobody really cares, and linux is more than usable, and if you have ever used it (especially in the last couple years) you would know that the apps are just as stable/reliable, if not moreso than its windows/osx counterparts.
I'd wait till the GSMA event (18th-20th November) is over before making any rushed purchases, with the contracts that come along.
http://www.mobileasiacongress.com/
Tegra and WM7 may show up... and that's next-gen mobile computing.
haha, I wonder where these figures came from? T-mobile perhaps?
extremely doubtful since they are a publicly traded company. if they were to outright lie about their sales numbers, the SEC would investigate and prosecute. in addition, Motley Fool has always been very good about facts, although their source-backing has always been questionable as they report on a lot of insider info where citing a source could result in that source's termination.
most likely the numbers are extrapolated from total units produced by HTC, provided by an inside source.
finally the IPhone killer..in every aspect!!
i highly disagree.
no single phone could ever compete with the iphone on smug factor.
I really dont know why people are so hyped up by android. At the moment it offers absolutely nothing. Many features are missing and you cant do things other phones allready could. Just because its google, people in the US cant wait to get it. ofcourse open source is great but it will take some time after its used and good apps will see the light of the day. But even then, noone knows if android will ever be able to do what windows mobile can. Especielly when it comes to compatibility issues with pc files or synch. Htc touch hd offers much more at the moment. Oh and concerning windows mobile, its still the best mobile os out there you cant compare that to other phone os. WM is like having a mini pc with you. Not just a nice phone enhanced by simple apps. People who buy a WM phone want more than that and WM offers it. Its not for every one ofcourse, but thats the thing with all phones out there. There's something for every one out there.
Does you hand gets pink if you hold an G1?
does your hand get pink while you type a decent comment?
Will be a great tool to have with the iphone .. doing everything iPhone can't do. In the UK, waiting. I am wondering what PAYG cost may be.
WinMo 6.1 already does everything the iPhone can't do. :)
But I can't wait to see how Android will encourage more competition from everybody.