Google G1 Phone Android in India: HTC may offer with Airtel

The much hyped Google Phone G1 with Android operating System, will be available in India from Decemeber 2008 onwards, as per news available from Taiwanese handset major High Tech Computer (HTC). Some first look reviews for Google G1 Phone can be read here.

What is the expected price of Google G1 Phone Android in India?
The Google G1 Phone Android is expected to cost more than what it is costing in USA. The current offering in US for Google G1 Phone Android is in the range from $179 to $199. In India, Google G1 Phone Android is expected to cost much higher than that (like the Apple iPhone price dispcrepancy between US & India). The reason being quoted by the HTC is "the Indian market does not work on the handset subsidy model".
So Google G1 Phone Android aspirants, be ready to shell out more money for your purchase of Google Phone G1. Though the price is expected to be a little less than Apple iPhone for having some competitive edge.

Will the Google G1 Phone Android be offered as "locked" phone in India to a Mobile Service Provider?
Most probably YES. HTC officials say that they would prefer a mobile operator tie-up to introduce the Google phone in India in December. Rumors are that most probably the mobile service provider would be Airtel. As per the news, HTC India has an exclusive partnership with Airtel, is also open to selling the G1 phone through independent retail channels.

How much sales are being targeted by Google G1 Phone Android in India?
Google G1 Phone with Android is expected to sell 400,000 units by the end of 2008 i.e. in just one month of launch. That would constitute 4% of market share of smart phone market. In the next year 2009, HTC India hopes to sell 600,000 mobile devices.

Anything special about Google G1 Phone Android?
HTC’s device is a 3G phone with a touch-screen, slider keyboard, GPS and Wi-Fi. Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices that was announced in November last year and developed by the Open Handset Alliance — a group comprising players like Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola and Samsung. Moreover, the name Google does not need any marketing strategy - people trust it by the heart. However, the biggest constraint is the availability of 3G network across India, which would severly hurt the applications to work on these smart phones.