AT&T launches first smartphone with Google software
AT&T is teaming with rival Google on smartphones, using the search engine's open-source mobile software Android on a smartphone to be released March 7. The move follows a push in recent months by competitors Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile to adopt phones that run Google's software like the Nexus One and Motorola Droid.
The move is remarkable in that it shows the growing ties between the search giant and wireless carriers. Google continues to fight all the carriers as it pushes the Federal Communications Commission to adopt so-called net neutrality rules that would prevent a broadband Internet provider -- including wireless companies -- to act as gatekeepers of applications like Google's on their networks.
In a release, AT&T said its Motorola Backflip will focus on social-networking features such as syncing contacts, posts, messages and photos from Web sites Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gmail and Google's Picasa.
The smartphone will be the first of more Android-based phones for AT&T, the phone giant said. The Backflip will retail at $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract to use AT&T's data and voice plan.
By
washingtonpost.com Editors
|
February 18, 2010; 7:40 AM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: Google digital books dispute heads to federal court
Next: Comcast and NBC head back to Hill for hearings
Posted by: LBrettGlass | February 18, 2010 9:39 PM | Report abuse
Brett, you bald-bozo, check the byline for this post. Compare it to the others. Cecelia didn't even write this.
WaPo editors, when are you going to permanently ban Brett Glass the troll. As one of his customers, I wish you would, so he'll have more time to work on his network, which is an expensive p.o.s. that's barely better than dial-up, and that blocks all sorts of content.
Which raises a good question -- please Brett, for the love of God, go ahead and block all Google content from your customers, and see how long they remain customers.
Posted by: AmyBandini | February 19, 2010 3:36 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Again, Ms. Kang touts a Google product but not the many other smartphones that have come out recently. Why? Just look around this page; the ad revenue comes from Google.