Wireless carrier T-Mobile is looking to continue their assault on home phone service with the launch of a Google Android powered home phone. Android is the open source operating system launched by Google and its partners for mobile phones. T-Mobile launched the Android powered G1 mobile phone in 2008. They are looking to expand into the home with an Android powered home phone and tablet computer sometime next year. The New York Times broke the story as a result of some documents they received from a T-Mobile partner.
T-Mobile will join Verizon and AT&T with a next generation home phone which combines web and mobile functionality into wireline home phones. AT&T launched their version of this trend, Home Manager, back in 2008. Verizon followed with the launch of the Hub earlier this year. T-Mobile has already pursued the wireline home segment with their T-Mobile@Home service, which provides a broadband IP powered home phone service as a $10/month add on service for existing wireless customers.
Details of this latest T-Mobile move are sketchy. But it’s safe to assume T-Mobile will tie their existing Android wireless G1 with this new home phone version, creating a potentially compelling competitive offering. We’ll have to see how it’s priced and what features it truly offers before making firm conclusions.
