By A few sources are reporting that what everyone and their mother have been calling the “HTC Dream” for so long will actually be marketed as the T-Mobile G1. Apparently, the Magenta Men want to flex their muscle by re-branding the phone as their own (a la Sidekick) and cash in on the idea of the “1st Google Phone” – or G1.
But wait… don’t the FCC documents specifically refer to the DREA100? They sure do, but thats likely the model number assigned by HTC to the device. So T-Mobile is free to call it what they want, but where did this G1 name come from?
Carriers and Manufacturers have built some websites around their handset models – take for instance the T-Mobile Sidekick website at Sidekick.com or the BlackBerry Bold website at BlackBerryBold.com. A little Sherlock sleuthing shows that the whois information for T-MobileG1.com is the same as that of Sidekick.com. You guessed it… T-MobileG1.com is owned by T-Mobile and was just recently registered and people are speculating this will definitely be the “official” name.
It would be a shame if its true for a couple reasons:
- HTC Dream sounds cooler than T-Mobile G1
- Google has tried to move away from calling any Android device a “Google Phone” per se and this comes right out and wreaks of, “Hi, I’m a Google Phone – Buy Me!”
Do you think it will be called the HTC Dream or T-Mobile G1? And what SHOULD it be called? There is a poll over at AndroidForums.com… lets see which name is most popular: http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?t=170
Note that the poll asks what will it be called and you should say what you think it SHOULD be called in the comments of that poll, as a reply!
The rumor mill keeps churning in relation to the good old HTC Dream G1 Google Phoned T-Mobile device as we’re now calling it. Most recently, pictures that show further details and specifications of the phone as well as a information on the first television commercial:
The phone will sport the T-Mobile logo, Google logo AND HTC logo. Everyone is saying how this is great news but I think its rather irritating. If this really is a “dream” device let the phone speak for itself instead of plastering logos all over it. Am I wrong here?
And concerning the potential “commercial” they already say they’ll be quick to blame an overzealous fanboy if it doesn’t pan out, so I wouldn’t put any money on this but apparently here is the “concept” of a possible G1 Commercial:
- Setting is after hours in a computer/science lab
- A cell phone sitting next to a computer starts to pull all kinds of information from the PC
- Bright light flash and room goes dark, silent.
- Janitor or security guard walks in with flashlight to check on disturbance
- We see his face light up from phone’s perspective
- Google logo is shown in commercial
- The G1 phone is not actually shown in commercial
Sounds more confusing than anything else. Someone needs to remind these guys that the vast majority of people still don’t know what Android is and don’t know that any type of “Google Phone” is in the works or what network its on or any of that. I’m all for creativity… and maybe this would be okay as a “teaser” leading up to the announcement and pre-sale or something… but as a main spot I couldn’t see it being too effective.
[Via AndroidForums, AndroidGuys(twice), AndroidCommunity]
Hey thanks for the link love! We’re gonna be plugging the forums you’ve got really soon. Lots of good discussion to be had there!
I think G1 is an acceptable name, most people are quick to downplay it because we’ve gotten used to the Dream. G1 is short and it actually has a fair bit of geek humor in the “1st Gphone” subtext, which probably won’t be marketed.
And I don’t mind the logo placements, it’s not like they’re all large and in sequence. They’re small and well-placed on the device. T-Mobile’s is next to the earpiece because you’re using them to make the calls, Google’s is on the back like Apple’s on the iPhone because it’s their baby, and HTC’s is “on the inside” so to speak because they manufactured it (and it shouldn’t be visible most of the time anyways.)
well, G1 is not bad name, its original and extraordinary. … HTC Dream can be easily confused with HTC Diamond (so thats reason, I dont like HTC D… name)
Dream is catchier.
A: “Is this an iPhone?”
B: “No, it’s the Dream. Much better.”
A: “Is this an iPhone?”
B: “No this is the G1.”
A: (snoring)
Dream Just sounds like someone is trying to hard.
We should just call it the WetDream.
G1 sounds nice, simple, and smooth.
Google’s name is on the back of the device and and the search screen
right when you power up the device. Why not use Google’s name in the device name.
I can see both conversations happening:
Dream-
Friend: What kind of phone is that?
Me: T-mobile Dream.
Friend: hahaha what the hell kind of name is that?
Someone must have been smoking some good
stuff when they cam up with that.
G1-
Friend: What kind of phone is that?
Me:Its the T-mobile G1.
Friend: Oh I see. Thats real tight. Let me see it.
“Google has tried to move away from calling any Android device a “Google Phone” per se”
Good luck with that. My girlfriend and her friends already refer to my HTC phone as my “google phone” since I use it to look up directions and other info. Lost? Why don’t you check your google phone? Where’s the closest pizza place open at this hour? Check your google phone!
:))))))))))))) yeah I get that when I’m using my E65’s Opera mini to google/wiki something :)
I have a HTC P4350, or is that a T-Mobile Wng? T-Mobile will call it a G1, HTC will call it the Dream, and I will buy the Dream, enjoijams will buy the G1. Both of us will make the iTard in our lives green with envy…
hahaha thats right!
Rest assured I have 5 apple iTard groupies in my
direct group of friends.
i think the name should be ‘T-Mobile Dream’. this way it makes everybody happy. and i kinda like it.
Honestly, I could care less what they call it. I just want it so I can name it “baby”
LOL cant wait for this phone to come out. I have my 2 year upgrade coming up in october for tmobile. Just better work as good as it looks.
Hmmmm????
What sounds better? T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream….???
I like the T-Mobile G1 or jus the G1.
Can you imagine being drunk and someone askin you about your phone and is call the HTC Dream.
Friend: Hey what is that??
You:Wwwwhhhaaatttt??
Friend: Your phone? What is it?
You: Hhhuuhhh??? Mmmyy pphhhhooonnnee??
Friend: Yea the thing in your hand.
You: Ooohhh yyeaa.
Friend: (Lol???)…(Wtf he/she is really drunk) – Dependin who is reading this ;D
You: Its the D-O-G Pet…. No C-A-T Kitten…?? No the P-D-A Comp…??? Noo????….????
Friend: (DAMN!!! I should take him/her home so they dont get hurt. And damn he/she doesn remember the name of the phone.)
You: ???… Ummm the K-G-B Warfare…
Friend: Ok lets take you home.
You: Home???… Thats what my phone is called.
Friend: No Lets take you home now your really drunk.
You: No Officer i only had 1 drink… Im not drunk.
Friend: No its me now come on get in the car.
You: What?? No sicko
Friend: What?? Get in the freakin car drunky.
You: Mom I want to be here you never let me do anythin!!
Friend: WTF??? (Friend gets out of car and throws you in the car and takes you home.)
You: Is this your house???
Friend: No its yours stupid.(Friend wash your face and puts you in bed)
You: Are we going to have sex now???
Friend: No!! go to sleep.
You: Do you have a condom??
Friend: BYE!!!! GOODNIGHT!!!! See you tomorrow.
You: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz(Knocked out)
See what happens when a cell phone’s name can do the friends didn find out the name til a week later.
really i like the name TMO Dream because its sounds effin awesome but yet again so does G1… like ” yeah my G1 can do this this and this…” other than ” my dream is awesome” and then theyll be like what dream? ya kno idk lol i like G1 it sounds futuristic.
It has to be G1 because this is a GOOGLE phone. Let’s face it, the average person probably never even heard of HTC but they know Google and they know that Google “made a phone” to rival Apple’s iPhone.
When they go to T-Mobile, they’re going to ask for a Google phone not an HTC Dream.
So calling it a G1 is the SMART business move. Calling it an “HTC Dream that runs an operating system called Android that was created by Google” is a recipe for confusion and failure.
Other carriers like Sprint who will hop on the bandwagon later are going to have a hard time naming their phone once G1 becomes synonymous with the Google phone. T-mobile can rename their line, G2, G3, etc no matter who manufactures the phone later. What will others call it to emphasize that their phone too – is a Google phone?
You articles are really helpful..!!!