As the launch of the first Android phone approaches, every day brings a bit more detail. Today, the Wall St. Journal reports that Google and T-Mobile are pricing the first Android phone–the HTC Dream–at $199, bringing it on par with Apple’s iPhone. T-Mobile also says it will roll out new “aggressively priced” data plans to go along with the new device, but declined to provide more detail.
Together, Google and T-Mobile hope the modest price point will be attractive to consumers. Apple’s iPhone set the price-point bar, and Google/T-Mobile hope that the HTC Dream will see similar uptake. And of course, the phone should be available to the general public just in time for the holiday shopping season, which should further spur adoption.
Looks like Google has all it’s duck in order in terms of rollout, marketing (the phone will sport the Google brand, in addition to HTC and T-Mobile) and timing. The only question left is whether Android will meet expectations. And that can’t be answered until consumers actually have the phone in hand and start using it. Stay tuned.
