T-Mobile USA’s CTO Cole Brodman: Second Android Phone Details Coming in ‘Next Few Weeks’

topics

T-Mobile USA’s CTO Cole Brodman: Second Android Phone Details Coming in ‘Next Few Weeks’

T-Mobile USA is getting ready to roll out its second Google (NSDQ: GOOG) phone, according to T-Mobile’s CTO Cole Brodman, who confirmed the timing in an interview with mocoNews. He said the follow-up device to the T-Mobile G1 will be out in early summer and details of the release would come later this month.

T-Mobile is betting huge on the Android platform, which sold at least 1 million handsets for the fourth-largest U.S. carrier but has failed to generate a ton of buzz among consumers. While a lot of the specifics about the upcoming phone are still unknown, it will follow the launch of the Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre this Saturday, though may land on store shelves before Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) rolls out its latest rumored device. Brodman: “We are really excited about that. We have no more specific details at this time, but wanted to say we remain very committed to the Android platform and are excited about taking this next step.”

Brodman said the device will run the so-called “cupcake” version of the operating system, which is currently rolling out to T-Mobile G1 subscribers. He wouldn’t say much else about the device, but it sounds like it has a high likelihood of coming from a new handset partner, like Motorola (NYSE: MOT) or Samsung, rather than from HTC, which manufactured the original T-Mobile G1. Brodman: “We’ll have multiple new Android devices—from multiple partners—this year.”

During the interview, Brodman also talked about how Android devices will integrate more of T-Mobile’s brand in the future, the carrier’s interest in netbooks, and why it will likely pass on carrying Nokia’s flagship N97 device. Excerpts from the interview after the jump:

—T-Mobile’s brand on Android: The original G1 device was predominately a Google product, and didn’t include much of T-Mobile’s brand. Brodman said that will change. “My perspective is that each device will be focused on a different consumer segment…There’s a couple of paths you can take: You can partner close with Google, and it has Google brand sprinkled throughout, and then there’s the carrier and handset initiative—and non-Google based innovation. We are going to take both paths to market, and you’ll see different elements sprinkled in.”

—T-Mobile on netbooks: Brodman said netbooks are an emerging space for the company and are looking at working with partners over the next several months. Separately, they are seeing several partners embed Android into hybrid devices and into netbooks. Brodman said that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll choose Android, but a mobile-centric platform, like Andorid, makes sense for mobile devices.

—The G1 as a success: T-Mobile’s parent Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) said T-Mobile sold more than 1 million G1s during its first six months on the market. Is that a success? Brodman: “I think for a first generation product—with first-generation hardware and software—and for a period of time it was in the market, it was good. We didn’t launch the G1 for the sake of making the G1 the most successful mobile phone ever built…It was about plays well beyond the G1. From that standpoint,...it was pretty good as a starting point.”

—Will T-Mobile pick up Nokia’s N97?: Brodman said they are not very interested in Nokia’s flagship N97 device, which hits the market this month. Brodman: “Some of the Nokia/Symbian devices have a lot of functionality, but they are quite expensive and Symbian does not have a lot of traction in the U.S. While Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is a strong partner, we haven’t had a lot of demand for N-series products to date.”

Tricia Duryee

@triciad Jun 2, 2009 11:30 AM ET

Posted In: Technologies / Formats, Operating Systems, Companies, Google, Nokia, T-Mobile

latest headlines

vrso2

Hmmm, T-suckmobile owns only 1700 and 2100 Mhz for 3G. That's all because they came on market to late !!!
Now they

Lauren-Ashley

Why would you get a better price because a new phone is coming out? Come on, Rodney. Unless your contract is up, expect to pay full price.

Lucky for me, my contract is up, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next android device.

Mike

I hope the new handset (early summer) is the i7500, just much better than the HTC that came out in the rest of the world. UMA, 3.5mm jack good memory onboard and expansion and thinner with OLED. As to the comments from folks with G1's deal with it you bought the phone if you want a new one you got to pay like every other time you get bored with a phone during contract. In addition to Julia's comment "Why would consumers like me want to replace their current android phone for a handset that runs the same firmware?" well for most of us it would be that we wanted to play with android but the G1 is quite possibly the most unappealing phone we have ever seen it looks like a bent turd.

Particia

Sorry about some of rhe errors in spelling . Other than that I stand by what I said.Nokia makes great phones.

Particia

I too agrre that T-Nobile needs to make Nokia smart phones available to theur consumenr base. The handsets function as onw would expect from the quakity of Nokia . The HTC is a flash in the pan, Great marketing intro but a big let down on the the promises projected when this handset was first hyped. but a big let down overall. . I definitely agree let's get the Nokia N97 and 900 series for the customer. which is counter productibe to the JDPowers long standing award for customer service that far surpasses any of their competitors.

Jeremy

I'm sorry, but that is bull! They need to pick up the Nokia N97 and the 900. Those phones are soo much better than the Android, Iphone and Palm phones. That is just a lame excuse. All T-Moble cares about is money, not customer satisfaction!!! It's NEVER about what the people want. What a shame!

Julian Hanna

From all the reports Ive read it seems that the next in line is rumored to have cupcake as the firmware. Why would consumers like me want to replace their current android phone for a handset that runs the same firmware? I understand the new and exciting flash on the handset forthe camera but really its the same device under the plastic to me. Why not spruce up the interface even more and make it more customizable? its the little things that get consumers to buy.

the realist

Too expensive? I find that hard to believe especially when T-Mobile is planning on picking up the HTC Touch Pro 2 which might I add costs around $120 more than the N97. Price is not the real reason T-mobile because you are due to release a phone that costs more than the N97 in July.

Michael Scharf

Two quick questions…

1. Will T-Mobile continue to support the Microsoft/Danger Sidekick line or work on moving those customers into the Android line.

2. Given T-Mobile's new retention program (large price reduction when a customer hits 22 months on their contract), what do they see as their next key subscriber growth initiative? Is it new handsets/hardware (G2/netbooks), faster 3G rollout, pricing…?

Ben Metcalfe

"While a lot of the specifics about the upcoming phone are still unknown,"

Er, well it's probably quite likely that it's the HTC Magic (aka G2) that Google gave out early to developers at their dev conference last week.

Rodney Pohlman

I like the idea that your comming with your new device butt what's going to happen to people like myself who already has the g1 are we going to be able to trade in for the phone or given some type grace for the new phone? Rodney Pohlman

Reader

"Will T-Mobile pick up Nokiaâs N97?: Brodman said they are not very interested in Nokiaâs flagship N97 device…"

The profile of the N97 is not in the sweet spot of the T-Mobile demographic. The phone is just too expensive. More importantly, the current variant does not have the right 3G AWS band support that T-Mobile runs.