T-Mobile plans to launch a handset with Google’s Android system next year, in a move it hopes will distinguish it from other carriers. Aside from the new business model with Google, (NSDQ: GOOG) the WSJ has some other examples of how T-Mobile is opening up:
—MyFaves, which gives free calls to any five people, rather than require they be on T-Mobile’s network.
—First carrier to offer WiFi roaming.
—Keen to get involved in handset creation (like DoCoMo). Not just with Google, the newly launched HTC Shadow is a case in point.
T-Mobile needs to stand out to differentiate from AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon, (NYSE: VZ) which offer a bundle of telecom services and have twice as many customers—although it has to be noted that T-Mobile’s US customer base of 28 million is a very respectable figure.