HTC CEO expects to move 600,000 G1s this year, more in 2009
By Darren Murph 
posted October 26th 2008 9:06AM
posted October 26th 2008 9:06AM
[Via mocoNews]
posted October 26th 2008 9:06AM
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That's funny. . .600K units in 2008, and that includes the holidays? I guess that pent-up demand isn't what I thought it might be. Wow. That's not even, well, impressive. I mean, RIM sells millions of phones per quarter, and Apple sold nearly 7 million last quarter. There will be more android phones, but wasn't this the "flagship" phone, since Google isn't yet planning to make its own? TMO and Google really should have dismissed that "1.5 million preorders" claim some weeks ago. . .it's quite a fall from 1.5 million preorders to 600K for the quarter. No wonder the App Market is completely open and free. . .how else would you get developers to write apps for a the couple hundred thousand phones sold right now (if even that many), versus over 13 million iPhones and iPod Touch models as of September 30?.
No offense or anything, but let me put things into perspective.
Apple barely sold ANY iphones in their first YEAR (a little over a million). And here Google is going to sell 600 k (a bit more than half a million) in only 2 months.
Stop ranting fanboy.
Worldwide sales vs. one US carrier
Sales cannot be compared.
That's all.
first full quarter of iPhone sales was 1.1 million (Q4'07).
That was just in the US on just one carrier. Exact same situation the G1 is in.
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ITS TOO HARD!!
that's what she said.
I tried the G1 in best buy for about an hour yesterday.
My friend had her iphone 3G so we could make some comparisons....
The G1 user interface is frustrating. Not intuitive at all. I loved the iphone interface when it came out because it was so easy to figure out.
My opinion might change if I had the G1 for a while - it does seem to allow more complex and richer user interface operations, where as the apple's is bare-bones.
The little mighty mouse scroll wheel is GREAT, except it jumps to each link on a web page. wish it could be made to just scroll smoothly.
Why is the damn thing so thick?
Responsiveness kind of sucks - screens would freeze up for a second or two while it was doing something.
Street view is utterly useless. if you're sitting in a car or something you cannot rotate yourself 360 degrees. how annoying.
"The little mighty mouse scroll wheel is GREAT, except it jumps to each link on a web page. wish it could be made to just scroll smoothly."
hold alt while you scroll and it scrolls the page instead of link the link
"Street view is utterly useless. if you're sitting in a car or something you cannot rotate yourself 360 degrees. how annoying."
use your finger to rotate the view.
I so wish I could have one of these, but it wouldn't do me any good.
Everyone seems to be going at this the wrong way. When you say G1 you refer specifically to the HTC hardware/T-Mobile Branded device. What's important here isn't T-Mobile - or the HTC device specified by 'G1'. Comparing that to any other phone is like comparing apples to oranges.
The important thing here is the OS 'Android'. The current incarnation that the OS lives on fails to impress me (imo) however I do have faith that, like Microsoft was smart enough to realize, you can focus on making a better OS so that it can run on many different hardware platforms - thus - you can saturate the market more than say locking an OS to a specific phone.
My hopes are that, when Android evolves to the next incarnation that it remains to be completely open. By Open (in this sense) I mean open to reloading whatever hardware you currently have with the newer OS. That alone is incomparable on most Smart(ish) type phones today. Personally I think Google took a very smart approach to going about this. T-mobile happens to be but one stepping stone in the journey they have crossing the creek.
While I'm always glad when there is competition (always good for he consumer)...I just don't see the great attraction of Android. If it wasn't Google would we even care? When I've played with Android it just seemed like every other Smart phone OS. It seems the most vocal (on both sides) are Apple fanboys and the anti-Apple zealots.
My friend has one. I played around with it. Pretty slick phone, but obviously its version 1.0 so there are things to improve upon. Add to the fact that i switched from t mobile to ATT a while ago, so I'm not going back anytime soon.
I'll buy one for $189. No contract though. And I'm not paying $400. This phone someday will be $99 and will someday be free with activation.
So much for being an "open source" phone. Only one model and tied up with T-Mobile. Where are more phone models at? Do the manufactures have to pay royalties to sell a phone with Android on it?
Why isn't someone on eBay with these phones at a fair price selling 1,000's of them? I'll buy one when the price is right.
...Remember when the iPhone was more than that WITH an overpriced contract? And yes, ALL technology goes down in price. Waiting for that is NOT a new thing. And it is open source. More models are not out because the source code has only JUST been released. and NO, of course they don't.
And they're not because they'd also need thousands of contracts. And personally, I think the current prices IS fair.
@Ryan
>> Only one model and tied up with T-Mobile. Where are more phone models at?
Do you think manufacturers just turn a magical crank and new phones come out?
>> Do the manufactures have to pay royalties to sell a phone with Android on it?
You don't quite understand the meaning of open source do you?
honestly i wanted to pick one of these up...but so many people on the HOFO's have already returned them I am going to wait.
I'm sorry but the real problem with the G1, not that I've used one yet (but why let a lack of information get in the way of an opinion), the real problem is--surprise!-- the iPhone.
I'm trying to imagine how cool the G1 would be if the iPhone didn't exist, but you know what? I can't, because it wouldn't exist if iPhone didn't. There were rumors in 2005 about a Google phone; if they had pushed harder and maybe got it released before iPhone, then they would've had something. Deliver well, but deliver fast, especially in tech, otherwise you get iPhoned......
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> it wouldn't exist if iPhone didn't. There were rumors in 2005 about a Google phone
Wow, you just pwned yourself within two sentences. Google have mentioned that they've worked on Android for around five years or so, longer than the iPhone has been around or has been known about. I guess sometimes a lack of information IS a dangerous thing, but thanks for playing anyway...
I just checked E-bay.. G1 prices are hovering around $400 USD...
1st gen iphones are going for $500+
So, do you get a poop scoop in the box to pick this thing up when you drop it?
What was the entry price of the 1st Gen iPhone at release? $400
G1? $179
Each with a markup around $200
eat it fanboy.
Yes but we all know that you could get the iPhone WITHOUT a contract (pick your plan)
and when the free unlock came it was a mad house... especially with the price cut....
So you could say that the iPhone really was contract free.. this G1 turd will not leave the store without your signature on hte dotted line...
eat that, Jack!
I'll wait for another Android handset. I keep hearing too many horror stories and people returning the phone for a number of reasons. They are even running a petition over at androidcommunity forums for new batteries for the device. From what I hear you can't even go a full day without the phone dying. I also have seen many people say the unit just dies completely after a only a few days, the screen creaks etc..just too many problems for me to be worried about. I'm sure it's not affecting all g1 owners but I can't afford to be one of them it does affect.
Well, I am sure that you can just walk into any G1 handset store and get an on the spot swap like with the iPhone's friendly service...
oh wait there are no G1 stores, only lousy T-mobile 3 week repair service...
iPhone = Chardonnay
G1= Carbonated pee
Customary T-Mobile service is to send you a replacement phone and then you send yours back. Usually ships to you within 3 business days.
An HTC mobile phone not holding its charge - what a surprise!
My HTC Dash only gets moved from my home socket to my office socket, charger connected at all times...
The T-Mobile G1 looks *completely* different in person, seriously. I got one expecting it to be butt ugly, but it's actually a somewhat attractive phone. I highly doubt everyone is going to go for a iPhone 3G because it has a fruit on the back or because it's "more shiny," that's just a fanboy statement, as happy_penguin pointed out.
(My Comment) – the G1 phone is cute for an HTC phone to replace only the Sidekick, MDA, WING collection. However, let keep it real if you you want to go against models, HTC Touch HD was the better model against the iPhone. Look it up and tell me I am Wrong!!!
Here are a few positives the G1 has on the iPhone:
* Amazon MP3 Store - You can buy and download songs *over 3G or EDGE* instead of just over WiFi and the songs are NOT DRM protected and they are 10 cents a song cheaper
(My Comment) – Amazon MP3 Store only made it $0.11 cents cheaper, because they want to go at iTunes. During the Summer, people was trying to make iTunes to be set for everyone that have a mobile device. When iTunes is only allows transfers to only apple products. So what amazon doing, they want to challenge Apple iTunes Store. Wish you luck.
Let go towards transfering purchases by wi-fi, 3G and Edge:
Edge – So what! Why would I use Edge to get my music, seriously.
3G – Hmmm, well is cool if I was living in Europe with their 3G connection, because T-Mobile do have many drop internet connection and 3G do not cover everywhere. So let assume I decide to by the Beetles album, and it was in a middle of a download and the unit restarts or whatever. Chances are Amazon will probably recharge you for an purchased item. So in general, I would only do my downloads through wi-fi anyway, to avoid explaining to customer service what just happen moments ago.
Wi-Fi - no complaints.. they should have followed Apple method only allowing purchases only on Wi-fi. You decide to buy cool, buy through wi-fi. Make sure you got everything you purchase.
Well you may say well the iPhone App store you can buy through 3G. Yes it file size is under 10mb. Why would you wanna transfer 85mb to 100mb through Edge or 3G. Come on now, you better go to Starbucks and get a Latte.
Let me add.. Tmobile only have 20 area with 3G and will go towards 28 at the end of the year. Where AT&T have 320. Hmm I guess you only allow to download you stuff using 3G in 20 – 28 areas… Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* iSkoot For Skype - This is a download in the app store that allows you to make Skype calls AGAIN *over 3G or EDGE* as opposed to just over WiFi
(My Comments) iSkoot vs Fring… Let be serious for a second you aiming at the phone, operating system or Apps that goes on to the phone. Any App you put on your unit have Updates where those feasures will happen, you act like all apps are concrete! That shouldn’t be there on you list! Do not get 3rd Party developers pist with you!
* MMS - the G1 suppports MMS
(My Comment) let get stuff clear ok! MMS, Camcorder or whatever requires an update to enable those features. Apple iphone proved it can be done. How? Hacked iphone showed you the possbilities, is in the freakin’ works to go on the iPhone. Not angry, but is common sense. Is like if you a programmer create an app and sell it on iTunes and make serious money! Can you create a MMS, Camcorder, etc for the iphone? If you can make it before the next developer makes it. You can say well well G1 is open source, but good percentage are not programmers, so you depend on the developers to create the app to put on your unit. And when these great developers make your dream app. People are cheap to donate. Take a 100 people in one pot; 20 to 30 percent would actually donate. So App store method is a GREAT method in making people pay what they want.
* Copy & Paste - the G1 support copy & paste.
(My Comment) Requires an update. Let assume you Steve Job and bring out the best phone ever. It takes only one update to fix all the problems. Ok all problems fixed. Now you decide to unlock or mess with the OS, but their no need to do an updates because the phone is perfect. The update fixed new issues and make sure you didn’t mess with your unit, installing a new image on top of the old.
* Open Source - this is a **HUGE** advantage, it supports third party apps *without* having to jailbreak it
(My Comment) HUGE FOR PROGRAMMERS! Not for people who not know how to program. If the average Joe messed with their unit and screw it up. T-Mobile will not replace your unit.
* Keyboard - I was a bit skeptical of this at first, I didn't think that it would be any better than the iPhone's on screen keyboard. HOWEVER, it's amazingly better. It's harder to "fat finger" than the iPhone, though the keys could stand to be a bit bigger.
iPhone Keyboard vs fixed keyboard
apple decides to give you an extra key and update add it on.
Depending what program you use, it takes away the keybaord and leave buttons you would only need.
Come on.. iPhone keyboard is better.
* 3 Megapixel Camera - better camera than the iPhones, and you can *take videos with it*
(My Comment) 3 megapixel Camera (okay is good) and make video (require an update or a 3rd party app), so what!
* Expansion Slot - Supports up to 16GB microSD card
(My Comment) have actually ran a movie off an a sd card, it skips and freezes. I’m good.. I do not need that feature.
* Removable Battery - Amen.
(cool, no complaints there (but the battery sucks anyway)
There's a really cool app in the Android Market (maybe the iPhone App Store has it too) that will actually listen to a 15-or-so second clip of a song and tell you what song it is (I've tested probably about 15 songs and it's only missed 2 or 3) and then places a link at the bottom where you can download the MP3 from Amazon, and you don't have to be near WiFi to do it because you can download it over 3G / EDGE.
Yes Apple Itunes have that!
Apple is a respected computer company. Anyone that goes with apple become very loyal! That is a FACT. Answer this when the iphone 2g and 3g phone came out in the market 1st time. The lines was so long it lasted for months. You got people traveling from all over the world to get this phone to bring back to their country. Iphone 3G comes out in July same kind of lines for months and the big difference is now all countries have these lines on launch. When the 32GB comes out, you will see the lines again. iPhone 3 comes out (with isight), you will get these kind of numbers again and again! YOU NEVER EVER SAW THESE KIND OF LINES FOR G1, DARE, VOGAGER, BLACK BERRY BOLD OR WHATEVER! So why the iphone???? EVERYTIME STEVE JOBS ADDRESS KEY NOTE TO THE PUBLIC, PHONE SERVICES START SHAKING IN YOU’RE THEIR BOOTS! You cannot compare T-Mobile in Price with AT&T, because there are many discounts for AT&T consumers. Trust me I know many, because I have two applied on mine that is 35% off every bill.
Only thing I am proud of is that both iphone OS10 and g1 Google OS is giving windows, Rim and Palm problems. You must agree with that… Too Bad G1 is not Microsoft Exchange Support
Check this Video out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ot80MS7dsk
Hmm, another solid proof that quantity does not make up for (lack of) quality. What on earth are you going on about, most of your "comments" don't make any sense at all.
I gave up half way though cos you're talking shit, and TERRIBLY. But I will address one point.
you CANNOT make a MMS or camcorder app for iPhone and sell it through the app store. Jailbroken yes, appstore no. Why? because Apple won't let you.
Oh, and Walt Mossberg is NOT an expert. He's a biased moron who doesn't know technology from his own ass.
"The iPhone was the only slick mobile computer. it is now getting a worthy competitor"
BULLSHIT.
This is pretty much the number I expected. Not much advertising (not anywhere close to iPhone or even Instinct advertising), no stock in non-3g stores, smaller carrier (for those looking to get it for AT&T, the 3g on it only supports T-mobile 3g, doesn't work with AT&T, main reason I'm not getting it, since I'm on AT&T), 1st gen product (also 1st gen OS) with no connection to another product (iPhone has the iPod/OSX connection) are just a few of the reasons why this won't get the same sales as the iPhone. I'm an Android fan, so I'm happy as long as sales are solid and it gives Android a solid first step into the market. I'm looking forward to getting an Android phone, though I'm not going to get this one.
What's amazing is how many iPhone lovers hate the G1 without ever having laid hands or eyes on the actual phone, while most ALL G1 owners have tried the iPhone and actually opted to get the G1 instead.
I love Apple, own stock and am on my 3rd laptop since 97 and will never own a pure windows pc again, but having been a mac fan before they were considered "cool" I have to say, reading all these iPhone loyalists slam a technology which only serves to compete and propel their favorite devise to places they wouldn't dream of.
The way I have been seeing it for the past couple years, Apple fanboys need Apple to do the dreaming for them, it seems Android is willing to let some of us dream for ourselves.
> Apple fanboys need Apple to do the dreaming for them
That's why it is called the Jesus phone and Steve is the Savior, after all.
I think the problem is that Apple and tech fans in general expected much more from Google.
Android is a great idea but I'm sure many would agree that its not ready for prime time. Google left way too much of Android for developers to finish.
I can only imagine what a nightmare it will be for an average consumer to get any form of customer service when their 3rd party email app crashes their phone.
T-Mobile points to HTC, HTC points to Google, Google points to the developer, and round and round they go.
"There's a really cool app in the Android Market (maybe the iPhone App Store has it too) that will actually listen to a 15-or-so second clip of a song and tell you what song it is."
You know, my candybar Walkman phone had this feature from early 2007, and all Walkmans have had it from then, I believe.
Not to mention that I can copy and past on the Walkman, too.
I have a first gen Iphone. I cant wait to get rid of it..I went to tmo on launch day and played around with it...nice, but..for me i did not like the form factor..not because it wasnt an iphone but because it reminded me of the sidekick, and honestly it felt cheap to me. Also if you go over to the howardforums...many, many people are unhappy with their phone for lots of reasons..some are returning some arents but if you read through the posts there seems to be alot of problems. Im into the Android movement but have to sit this session out.
I'm sorry, but I'd have to see the reasons WHY "so many people" on HoFo are returning their phones. Just because it's an enthusiast forum doesn't make all posters experts. There are lots of idiots there, too, just as here. If a very short battery life does turn out to be a legitimate issue, and not just individual users' overblown expectations or lemons, then fair enough. However, returning a brand new phone a couple of days after receiving it doesn't seem like giving it a fair shake to me, especially when there are just as many enthusiastic owners out there. I would wait another few weeks before declaring the G1 a problem child just yet. I dearly want one myself, but I'm giving it another month or so until a little bit of pragmatism sets in with all the reviews.
this is a dealbreaker for me - you can't run apps from the expansion card.
http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=14502
Now that I have my G1 phone for over 24 hours, I can make a few comments. So far, the phone is excellent. It may even be better than the 3G iPhone. I have not decided on which I think is better yet. The 3G reception in my area is pretty good.
I am looking forward to a podcast download app. Hopefully that will be available soon. Also, a video record app would be nice.
i dont even want to comment after these fools id feel like im stooping to some level of dumbness "apple users are the smartest most product aware people on the planet" i cant forget thous foolish words of a smart man / idiot. i used the iphone 2g the 8 gig before they were released for the public(ant works for apple everyone got one free) and i wasent impressed than and im still not impressed!
Those aren't too shabby of figures if they hit them. Near iPhone pace.
I suspect they'll drop off, however, as the newness wears off and more manufacturers start building Android phones.
@ Aaron
The iPhone keyboard can predict what key you meant to press depending on what your are typing out. After about the first day most people get the hang of it and realize that you can press the wrong key and by the end of the word you are typing the iPhone will figure it out and correct it.
You can also press 3/4 of a way on one key and 1/4 on another and it will know that you probably meant to press one key over the other. This is something you dont get with a physical keyboard - with a physical keyboard you either press the right key or the wrong one.
As software gets even better I don't see how a touch screen keyboard cant be as good or better than a physical keyboard. It's all a matter of learning a new input method, something that many long time smart phone users are too stubborn to do.
To get back on topic the iPhone sold 1.1 million in its first full quarter Q4'07. That figure is for US only, single carrier (ATT) and at a much higher price point ($399).
This is definitely a beta product from Google and only time will tell if they will continue to dedicate resources to it or just pass it on to developers to figure out. Frankly I would expect more from a product that requires a 2 year contract.
I'd buy one if they were on the Verizon network. For sure. If I wasn't bound to a damned contract I'd switch to tmobile.