HTC Dream G1, the Android platform-powered phone, known as Google phone, will be launched in India December 2008.
The price, however, will be higher than the US debut tag of around Rs 8,200 ($179). The cost more in India because the Indian mobile market does not work on the handset subsidy model.
Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices that was announced in November last year and developed by the Open Handset Alliance — a group comprising players like Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola and Samsung.
Google recently announced the Android Market, similar to Apple’s App Store, where consumers can buy and download content for its mobile platform.
Considered as competition to Apple’s iPhone, which is priced at Rs 31,000 for the 8GB model, the HTC G1 could be priced cheaper to maintain an edge in India. Currently, HTC has smart-phones in the Indian market priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 35,000.
Currently India does not have 3G capabilities. Still mobile users might find applications like maps and search useful. HTC India hopes to sell 600,000 mobile devices in 2009, having doubled sales this year from 100,000 in 2007. [via biz standard]
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