T-Mobile To Suffer From Oncoming Android Invasion

How is T-Mobile feeling right now? Probably not that great I suspect, knowing that there is about to be an onslaught of Android devices coming out in the next couple of months from rival cellphone carriers.

True, they are the ones that introduced Android to the world and took a major risk in carrying the first Android based smartphone, the T-Mobile G1. All in all, it’s safe to say this smartphone was definitely not an iPhone-killer. It was bulky and ugly and wasn’t made with the best technology that HTC has to offer.

Quite often, since last October, when the G1 went on sale, many people have coined the device as a ‘developers phone.’ In essence the device was really for early adapters, developers keen on checking out what open-source really has to offer, and last but not least, Google die-hard fans.

Almost a year later, we are on the verge of what the industry is referring to as the Android invasion. Google has put in a lot of man hours to try and improve the Android OS and the types of devices that it can possibly work with. HTC, as a manufactuer, is making out like gang-busters, so far, with their third Android device, the HTC Hero landing in the USA market on Oct 11.

I’ve played around with the Hero and I can say it’s a great device with a much-improved version of the Android OS. In addition, next week Motorola will be announcing their Android lineup. They’ve certainly invested a lot of time and money into this effort and believe that of all the mobile OS options they had for moving forward, Android made the most sense. These devices will likely land up at AT&T and Verizon, though it is not yet clear.

Whatever the case may be, Android is slowly catching everyone’s eyes, and even the likes of Tech gurus like Michael Arrington of TechCrunch have switched to a myTouch 3G and left iPhone behind in the dust. I also ditched my iPhone earlier this year and can honestly say, sans the apps, the rest of the Android features are very well tailored to my needs. I can get my work done and even enjoy the mobile device a bit as well with options for music downloads from Amazon MP3 and even shoot some video footage of my daughter.

While, T-Mobile has me locked in now, I also look forward to where better versions of Android device will be carried, and needless to say, I won’t be sticking with T-Mobile if their Android line up doesn’t keep pace with what other carriers will be soon offering.