AT&T Wireless is now giving free AT&T Wi-Fi Access for Apple iPhone users at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks. Here is a Hotspot location map.

steps to access AT&T WiFi for iPhone:

- Enable Wi-Fi from the settings icon

- Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks

- Enter 10-digit phone number, check box to agree to the Policy. "continue"

- You will receive a Free text message w/ secure link to Wi-Fi hotspot.

- Open text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access.

The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.

now shipping! T-mobile released the first Google Phone Powered by Android: the T-Mobile G1 (aka HTC Dream) for $400 - $220 off = $180 w/ free shipping. comes with Black and Bronze colors.

data plan: G1 service w/ unlimited web + 400 text, picture, email, or instant messages $25/mo, G1 Plus service w/ unlimited text, picture, email, or instant messages $35/mo

single G1 line: voice plan w/ 300 Whenever minutes for $30/mo, so total monthly fee is $30 + data. minimum $55/mo,

two G1 lines: family voice plan w/ shared 700 Whenever minutes $60/mo, so total monthly fee is $60 + fees for two data plans. minimum $60 + 2x$25 = $110.

Verizon Wireless is slated to introduce RIM's first all-touch-screen BlackBerry Storm 9500 in holiday shopping season for 2008.

Compare to the iPhone 3g

In the following table, I summarize the comparisons of BlackBerry Storm 9500, T-Mobile G1 and iPhone 3G. Here are my first impressions:

Plus's:

• 3.2MP Camera with 2x zoom, video-capturing
• Supports both major 3g standards in the world today: EV-DO Rev. A and HSDPA. EV-DO rev. A has major advantage over HSDPA in terms of upload speed: theoretical limit of 1.8 Mbps (with a 800-1000 kbps practical limit), vs. the 384 kbps maximum limit for HSDPA. EV-DO rev. A also offers much smaller latency, making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications such as gaming, VoIP, and video telephony.
• Verizon Wireless 3G and voice coverage are very good. Customer service is also top-notch.
• The touch screen depresses mechanically (RIM calls it Click-Through technology) to confirm your tapping. This is useful to confirm that your tapping is effective. This mimics mouse click that people are familiar with. In addition, if you double-tap (or double-click) on the screen, it will offer you scroll and pan functionality.
• 4 hardware buttons for accessing phone features and menu.
• Supports VZW Mobile TV service
• Cut and Paste of text

Minus's:

now T-Mobile Prepaid phone can get free Internet access using a backdoor method. Set up new APN epc.tmobile.com with no proxy, username, or password. click here for instructions for your phone.

You will get the 2.5G EDGE speed, not the faster 3G speed, but hey, it's free.

Don't have a T-mobile prepaid phone yet? Right now you can get FREE $25 prepaid refill card (130 min) with select prepaid cell phones.

T-mobile obviously got the message: it retracted the 1GB limit of data usage on its "unlimited" data plan for the Google Phone announced on 9/23. It came under fire when T-Mobile first unveiled the 1GB limit. Instead, it now says in its fine print:

To provide the best network experience for all of our customers we may temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless still advertise "unlimited" data plan on phones, but tethered phones or data cards now have a 5GB monthly limit.

Update 10/22/08: T-Mobile is now shipping G1 for $180 with free shipping. Plans with voice and unlimited web from $55 per month. Details here.

Update 09/25/2008: T-Mobile lifts the 1GB limit on their unlimited data plan for their Google Phone.

Today 9/23/2008, T-Mobile USA announced the first Google Phone Powered by Android: the T-Mobile G1 (aka Dream) manufactured by the Taiwanese HTC. It can be pre-ordered for T-Mobile customers now for shipping as early as 10/22/2008.

Compare to the iPhone

In the following table, I summarize the comparisons of T-Mobile G1 and iPhone 3G, and try to find a winner in each category. As you can see, they have far more similarities than differences (compared to other phones) and both are game-changing smartphones for the industry. Which phone is better? Again as you can see, it depends on your need.

In general, if you want a mature and flashy phone now, go with the iPhone. I believe that Google Phones and Android system will get a lot better pretty soon. Also keep in mind that other manufactures such as LG and Samsung are also working on their Google Phones.

What is Google Phone

Google Phone generally refers to cell phones or mobile devices using Google's Android mobile platform including an operating system, middleware, and some key applications.

Features

Features of the Google phones include

• Integrated web browser based on WebKit Open Source Project
• Optimized graphics support
• Wide media support for audio, video, and image formats
• Java virtual machine
• Different wireless technologies can be supported, such as GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, 1x RTT, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G technologies such as EV-DO, HSPDA, HSUPA, HSPA+.
• Hardware support includes video/still cameras, GPS, touchscreen, accelerometers (acceleration detection), compasses, etc.

Google Phone vs. iPhone

Since it's pretty much Google's product, you can expect that the Google phones can support wide varieties of web applications such as location-based service, search, blogging, photo (picasa), video (youtube), social networking, email/calendar, IM, gaming, etc. In other words, very much like the Apple iPhone.

Android Market vs. Apple App Store

Like the Apple Apps Store, the Google Phones can download 3rd party applications (including free apps) from the Android Market. According to the blog, it seems that the Android Market gives the application developers more controls in distributing the applications than the Apple App Store, where the applications are carefully censored by Apple.