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T-Mobile Makes Big Bet on Google Phone

'Android' handset plans fit with firm's other risk-taking moves

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Nov 12, 2007 5:29 PM CST
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(Newser) – T-Mobile plans to release a cell phone based on Google software next year, making it likely to be the first US carrier to bring out a Google-powered phone. The bigger carriers are wary as the Internet giant moves onto their turf, but T-Mobile relishes the chance to offer Google apps, reports the Wall Street Journal, in hopes of gaining market share.

The phone will use the Google-back 'Android' platform. T-Mobile joins Sprint-Nextel as the only US carriers so far to partner with Google in its push for an open operating platform for mobile phones. It's not the first time T-Mobile has been willing to go against industry orthodoxy, the Journal says; the smallest of the U.S. mobile companies has even broken ranks on supposedly sacrosanct billing practices.

T-Mobile chairman Hamid Akhavan addresses a press conference...
T-Mobile chairman Hamid Akhavan addresses a press conference...   (Getty Images (by Event))
A Google sign inside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen in this May 30, 2007 file photo. Confirming its long-rumored foray into the cell phone market, Google Inc. will give away a software package designed to spur more mobile Web traffic so the Internet search leader can peddle...
A Google sign inside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen in this May 30, 2007 file photo. Confirming its long-rumored foray into the cell phone market, Google Inc. will give away a software...   (Associated Press)
A visitor passes an exhibition stand of Google company in Duesseldorf, western Germany. (AP Photo/Rene Tillmann, file)
A visitor passes an exhibition stand of Google company in Duesseldorf, western Germany. (AP Photo/Rene Tillmann, file)   (Associated Press)
GERMANY-TELECOM-COMPANY-RESULTS-TELEKOM
GERMANY-TELECOM-COMPANY-RESULTS-TELEKOM   (Getty Images)
FILES - A picture taken 11 March 2005 shows a man using his mobile...
FILES - A picture taken 11 March 2005 shows a man using his mobile...   (Getty Images)
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