T-Mobile launched it's first smartphone based on Google's new mobile operating system Android manufactured by HTC called G1.

Android is an open source operating system for mobile phones developed by Google and supported by Open Handset Alliance. Open Handset Alliance is a business alliance between Google and a group of companies like Samsung, LG, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qaulcomm, T-Mobile, Nvidia etc. This alliance was formed to create an open source platform for mobile phones. Other partners like LG and Samsung to release Android based phones soon.

G1 is pre-loaded with many Google applications like Google maps, Gmail, Youtube, Google search etc. It has similar features like Apple's iPhone and Nokia's latest N 96. G1 has 3 megapixel camera, GPS, Wireless access and a full HTML browser.

G1 is expected to hit the US market by October 22. It costs $179 in US with a 2 year contract from T-Mobile, $20 less compared to iPhone. Like Apple App store G1 users also can pay and download Android enabled applications from Amazone Store.

Android based phones are a big threat to other companies like Nokia, Palm, Microsoft and Apple who developed individual operating systems for mobile phones.