Will there or won't there be a T-Mobile G2 in the near future?

T-Mobile and HTC are clearly both pretty committed to Android -- and cheers to that, may we add -- but the real question is: is the "G" series a franchise or a one-hit wonder? And if it's a franchise, just how soon might we see a G2? Logic would suggest that T-Mobile would want to give the G1 a little breathing room before piling on cousins that risk cannibalizing market share, but Cell Phone Signal is claiming we'll see the G2 next month, and what's more, the spec sheet reads like a dream: 5-megapixel autofocus primary cam with VGA secondary cam for video calling, full touchscreen, and WiFi -- in other words, something like the "Touch HD with Android" that everyone had been hoping for. Come on now, video calling? Seriously?

It gets juicier, though. Boy Genius Report has an unconfirmed follow-up rumor citing a tipster that Cell Phone Signal's spec sheet is basically accurate, but that the launch date's been pushed back to April. The tipster goes on to say that the device won't be exclusive to T-Mobile and will be sold elsewhere around the world -- though not under the G series branding -- and it'll lack a QWERTY keyboard but maintain the trackball we all know and love / hate from the G1. Oh, and get this: they claim there's already a G3 in the works, too. Any way you slice it, there are bound to be plenty of Android devices launching around the globe in '09, but if this turns out to be even remotely accurate, is it really the right way for T-Mobile to be going about its business?

Read - Original sketchy G2 rumor
Read - Additional sketchy information

[khamel @ Dec 20th 2008 8:14PM]

do want.

[superhobo @ Dec 21st 2008 10:41AM]

Agreed

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 8:15PM]

Too bad Android doesnt seem to be coming to VZW any time soon...

[page87 and counting @ Dec 20th 2008 9:00PM]

It is actually, they have it on most of their handsets, it's being beta tested, secretly disguised by removing all native functionality and GUI and replacing with amazing alterations such as VZNavigator. The final release will be much more solid as that's the launch of VZPic, which will be the only way to view photos on the phone you've taken with the phone ($.10 fee per view, or $19.99/mo for unlimited* views)

*Unlimited refers to 500 views, $.25 per view overage

[G1 now, tossed the iPhone 3g... @ Dec 20th 2008 9:14PM]

I'm not sure where you get your facts, but in all actuality, HTC came to Verizon FIRST with their handset design for Android. But the Verizon execs quickly spotted "lackluster hardware" when they realized HTC had not included hardware GPS.

The execs were quoted as saying "Who the hell do you think we are? We only provide the best handsets and service, do you know how bad it would ruin our reputition if word got out that the world's first android device didn't have GPS for us to cripple!?"

[Sohip @ Dec 20th 2008 9:53PM]

@(page87 and counting)
Do u mind sharing with us your sources?

[gonintendo @ Dec 20th 2008 10:01PM]

It is actually, they have it on most of their handsets, it's being beta tested, secretly disguised by removing all native functionality and GUI and replacing with amazing alterations such as VZNavigator. The final release will be much more solid as that's the launch of VZPic, which will be the only way to view photos on the phone you've taken with the phone ($.10 fee per view, or $19.99/mo for unlimited* views)

*Unlimited refers to 500 views, $.25 per view overage
/sarcasm

Fixed!

[Levi @ Dec 20th 2008 11:21PM]

Yeah, I duly noted the sarcasm. It was pretty obvious actually.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:16PM]

Wow, that spec sheet, for me at least, sounds just about perfect. May I add a proper 3.5mm audio jack to that, thank you very much.

[JohnTitor @ Dec 20th 2008 8:35PM]

HTC Engineer: "darn it, I knew we forgot something again"

[Taylor @ Dec 21st 2008 12:32AM]

The original iPhone was bad enough with the recessed 3.5mm jack.
But, an miniUSB plug for headphones?

That really was one of the worst facets of the otherwise great G1.

[TareX @ Dec 20th 2008 8:17PM]

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6574/g2hddesktoprevealsqwertnh2.jpg
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6746/slidingg2hdthreespotliglu0.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=g2hdchromoxi1.jpg


YES, PLEASE.

[dcoaster @ Dec 20th 2008 8:23PM]

Those concepts look AMAZING. If only, if only.... =)

[TareX @ Dec 20th 2008 8:36PM]

Thanks... a couple more:

G2 White model:
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1831/g2hdwhitedesktopio6.jpg

Swiping the G2 HD:
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5885/swipingg2hdms7.jpg

here's the link to all the rest:
http://www.talkandroid.com/android-forums/android-hardware/341-t-mobile-g2-phone.html

[JohnTitor @ Dec 20th 2008 8:37PM]

glossy screen anyone?
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1632/tmobileg2redesigntilteddv3.jpg

[TareX @ Dec 20th 2008 8:40PM]

Yeah John I guess I overdid the "reflection" effect on PS :)

[dcoaster @ Dec 20th 2008 8:48PM]

Yeah, now THOSE would make me excited about Android.

[T Hom @ Dec 20th 2008 8:58PM]

Wow those are a little too nice. I hate being teased by shit like this :(.... i just want it too bad.

[Nathan @ Dec 20th 2008 9:23PM]

Now something looking like that just might make me consider switching to T-Mobile. On screen keyboard + plastic keyboard for extended typing. The iPhone's soft keyboard is ok for short messages, but after 1.5 years using it, I still find it to get annoying for anything longer than a 1-2 sentence message.

Hopefully it would also support multi-finger gestures like Multi-touch does. The fine tuned zoom ability is quite useful on mobile Safari, I use it more often then the 'smart' zoom double tap. I would like to see that feature on other phones.

Say what you will about the iPhone, but you have to admit that it was the phone that really burst open the smart phone market to average consumers. iPhone was my first smart phone, as well as three of my friends who own one. It's a shame that Apple hasn't really improved upon the device since I bought mine on 'iDay'. They added 3G, which it should have had from the beginning, and the App store, again something that should have been included on day one.

With 6 months to go on my contract, I'm lusting after some Android. If the G2 were to look like your renderings, those 6 months of waiting would become quite a struggle.

[Levi @ Dec 20th 2008 11:42PM]

Thing is, half of those mockups are changes to Android, not the G1. T-Mobile doesn't have a say over, for example, the way the unit scrolls through the home screens. At this point, a G2 would still scroll left to right on the home screen like it does on the G1; the mockup that shows that 3D rendered home screen wouldn't happen.

The mockups should really be split into two categories, one for the G2, and one for Android.

The hardware mockups do look nice though. A bigger, higher resolution screen would be nice. I also have to admit that this generation of cameras on phones really bother me. If you want a nice camera on a phone, you have to go super expensive, and I would have to cut features from the phone I have now. Just give the G2 a headphone jack, the nice screen, and a 5 MP autofocus with flash.... just rip the cameras out of the Dare, I hear those suckers can record video at 120fps...

I have to disagree with the multi-directional whatchamacallit though, I really like the trackball. Keep the trackball :)

[TareX @ Dec 21st 2008 2:05AM]

Well Levi it's almost impossible to play a game with the trackball. You need to constantly hold a direction most of the times. Same applies to scrolling and browsing but to a lesser extent.

Blackberries always had trackballs for a good reason. They had few games and the worst browser ever. Trackball was good and businessy for going through mail. But for an all-in-one phone it's not as practical as it looks...

Anyway rest assured BGR said the G2 will have a trackball...

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 21st 2008 2:54AM]

did anyone else notice that on the large image with the Engadget RSS in it, the Mitsu LaserVue 65 inch article was dated March 18, 2009?
I remember that article not too long ago..., yet i somehow dont remember it in the future

[4honor @ Dec 21st 2008 12:27PM]

That rendering is pretty sexy... I will have to get one if it comes out. I am sure someone at HTC saw this, but can't make it because they will have to pay copyright/loyalty fees to the artist... So, we probably won't get it... :(

[patsy @ Dec 20th 2008 8:19PM]

"The right way?" Don't know about that, but Android is a great way to go, to be sure. I'm loving this phone more than any other before, warts and all. It can only get better from here, and the great thing is that a lot of the nits can be addressed purely through software upgrades. This one's a keeper...

[jake @ Dec 20th 2008 8:23PM]

I didn't buy the first rumor at all, no way would T-mobile release a second phone that soon, it'll totally cannibalize G1 sales.

Second one sounds more believable, but the tipster seems shaky to me, and who knows if the specs are accurate.

Only thing for sure is there will be plenty of Android phones coming in 2009, just not necessarily a G2 (branded as such or otherwise), especially so soon.

[Seth Jordan @ Dec 20th 2008 8:23PM]

A touch only G1 was reported a few weeks back as a gap filler product prior to a G2. It's all rumor no mater what the source. http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/12/tmobile-planning-a-touchonly-g1-handset.html

[Flashpoint @ Dec 20th 2008 8:25PM]

I was more impressed with the G1 than I was with the Storm. I loved the combination of touch and keyboard and the phone definitely made me erase my prejudice of its design.

They need a 3.5 mm headphone jack and A2DP.
They need a more powerful processor with better rendering of Google Earth.
They might add a tiltable screen for watching movies.
I think an SSD would be nice.
I also thing this thing should have data tethering.

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 8:40PM]

1, 2, and 5 are good ideas, but 3 and 4 are not going to happen (3 because if it is a full touchscreen, there is nothing to tilt it from, and 4 because, well, no)

[aznofazns @ Dec 20th 2008 8:45PM]

Why is an SSD a bad idea? It seems doable to me.

[Sohip @ Dec 20th 2008 9:53PM]

@ (Thats What He Said):-
The tilt can be combined with a touch screen...and that's what make the Htc Tilt unique from the rest of the other touchscreen phones.

[Phoenix @ Dec 21st 2008 8:01AM]

He said FULL touchscreen, i.e. no keyboard, i.e. nothing for the slide and tilt to slide from

[Temo @ Dec 20th 2008 8:45PM]

I want my QWRTY. I hate this touchscreen typing stuff. Its cool when surfing and other stuff and typing on the touchscreen is a act of "PRECISION" and playing around.

My Gorilla dumbs make the iPhone think I am typing with my forehead.

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 21st 2008 2:55AM]

how do you misspell QWERTY?

[Valicore @ Dec 21st 2008 11:18AM]

I'm guess you were using your gorilla dumbs on your iPhone while writing this post?

[Ryan Beesley @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:58PM]

That's not fair. Like me, Temo probably has an ASDFGH keyboard. Those are notoriously difficult to type QWRTU on.

[Noit @ Dec 20th 2008 8:49PM]

I think this is exactly the right plan. The G1 got all the early adopters to turn their heads, but the not-so-pretty design and almost beta-like feeling to it mean it's not going to appeal to everyone. If even half of those specs are correct and the thing looks good, there's easily room for a success along the lines of the Nokia N95 if not the hype-driven iPhone.

[Blacksheep @ Dec 20th 2008 8:52PM]

I just got my G1 in November and I won't be to happy if a G2 comes out in January! I can see wanting to release an updated phone in '09, but at least wait till summer as us early adopters will feel screwed over.

[bob sakamano @ Dec 20th 2008 8:57PM]

arent american networks too slow to run video calling?

[Ron @ Dec 20th 2008 9:20PM]

I was thinking the same things, but then again I think of it was a consumer demand then we'd see It on more handsets. It's hard to believe that this will have video calling, since T-mobile hasn't have the network coverage that other carriers have as far as 3G is concerned. But there's always Wi-Fi, so we'll see what happens.

[iLack @ Dec 20th 2008 10:04PM]

You know? If the IPhone gets video conferencing, then the whole world will have it, afterall, isn't all the phone companies using the iPhone as a Industry standard? I mean... all this iPhone Killer talk...

So Apple, get your asses over to having Video Conferencing ready, then we can all have it. Whether it's our HTC, Blackberry, Omnia, Nokia's Lackluster Series...

Comon, give me some next Android! I need to replace my iPhone, but the G1's retro design isn't cutting "sexy". I kinda like Lenovo's China OPhone (Really creative name, see... the IPhone is the industry standard... just wait till we get the aPhone, ePhone, uPhone...) but locked for freaking China is... Messed up.

Hopefully the G2 looks sexy enough... But also include a 3.5mm Jack. WE NEED THAT!

[Nick @ Dec 20th 2008 10:56PM]

Actually you mean to say if the Iphone gets it then the US and other areas might adopt video calling. Video calls are already mainstream in other parts of the world such as Japan. Apple isn't setting the standard at all. In fact, Apple has been slow to bring forth anything new to the table. Iphone isn't anything spectacular. It's just packaged nicely all the way around, kudos to that.

[iLack @ Dec 21st 2008 9:04AM]

That's exactly the point, Smartphones weren't being made by everyone until iPhone came about. Whatever iPhone does, creates the trend for other companies to do it as well. Sure, it's main-stream in other countries, this doesn't mean that that's the case for the US. So once they do it, everyone will do it.

[Bleck @ Dec 20th 2008 8:58PM]

Just give me the Touch Pro with Android dammit

[Blastar @ Dec 20th 2008 8:58PM]

If the G2 will come that short after the G1 release I think I' ll wait maybe for the G8 to come out.
Its not that long anyway.

[LondonConsultant @ Dec 20th 2008 9:57PM]

There'll be a G20 in Britain early next year...

[Fred @ Dec 21st 2008 5:09AM]

I think part of the point is to have different classes or tiers of phones. G1 was a good middle-road starter, but I'm really waiting for a good top-tier smart phone, with all the bells and whistles, including GPS and HD-alike (800x480) resolution. I do want a QWERTY though, like a Touch-HD Pro Extreme Alpha Omega with sprinkles.

[jnn4v @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:54AM]

Actually, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK, and the US have already scheduled to meet about this in La Maddalena, Italy from July 8-10, 2009. You can find out more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/35th_G8_summit

[SPOKE @ Dec 20th 2008 9:42PM]

Tmobile has multiple sidekicks, so why not multiple Gphones... one with a KB, one iwth a softKB.. why not - makes sense.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Dec 20th 2008 10:49PM]

I think it's ironic that it's called a soft keyboard when it's so hard to type on.

[JWC @ Dec 20th 2008 10:58PM]

A2DP and onscreen keyboard support will be out in next Android update, due January.