Android G1 set for April facelift, drops in price

March 12, 2009 | Camille Ricketts | Comments | |

T-Mobile confirmed that it will release its firmware “Cupcake” update to revamp the G1 Android phone in April. The new software will add a virtual keyboard (in addition to its hardware QWERTY version), video and voice recording, the ability to save MMS attachments and stereo Bluetooth support — as well as a refresh of its Linux kernel that should zap most reported bugs.

When it comes to web browsing, the souped-up G1 will offer the latest version of the Webkit core with support from the new Squirrelfish Javascript engine, and cut-and-paste functionality. On top of that, there will be a page that lets users view which third-party applications they are currently running, and a settings dashboard to toggle animation speed, font size and button behavior. These changes should make it a much worthier opponent for Apple’s iPhone.

Also in the news today, Amazon broke the $100-price barrier for the G1, offering the T-Mobile phone with Android software for as low as $97.99 (down from $400). The catch is that this price point comes with a two-year contract with T-Mobile that costs $40 a month and penalizes those who break it $250. T-Mobile says it permitted the drop in price to remain competitive with the iPhone and Palm’s much anticipated Pre.

A firm date hasn’t been set for the Cupcake launch. T-Mobile says it is waiting for the green light from Google. But the April projection is fairly exciting — we’ve been waiting for a while.

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About the Author, Camille Ricketts

Camille is the lead writer for GreenBeat. She came to VentureBeat from Google where she worked on its traditional platforms team, particularly in TV. Before that, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York and London. Follow her on Twitter at @camillericketts, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

With GreenBeat 2009, VentureBeat's all-star conference on all things Smart Grid, coming up in November, Camille will be expanding coverage of this exciting space. Stay up to date by following @greenbeat2009 on Twitter or by becoming a fan of the event on Facebook here.

  • xanie
    I should have known to wait for the G2. I paid the full 400 for this G1, and only two months later the 400 drops to 100!
  • Yurtil
    yeah, but that is the cost of cutting edge.