T-Mobile Pulse
In speaking to customers over the last year, there has been a reluctance to develop for Android until more devices become available. People are taking a ‘lets wait and see’ attitude. Most of the applications on the Android Market have been written by hobbyists doing it for fun, rather than large companies for profit.
Today, I was pleased to see that T-Mobile have launched the Pulse. This is actually a Huawei device. Unlike the so many other announced Android devices, this one is for real and shipping now. If you are in the UK you can buy it now.
I see this as significant because it’s the first shipping non HTC phone. It’s inexpensive which translates to free on a monthly tariff. What’s more interesting is that it is also being sold by T-Mobile as a Pay As You Go phone. (i.e. without commitment of monthly tariff).
This means Android will reach a much larger market segment of kids and others without credit ratings. The low price £179 (UK Pounds) without a contract undercuts the SIM-free prices of all other Smartphones (Symbian, iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile), especially those with a touchscreen that tend to cost significantly more. The total cost of ownership over the length of a typical contract is massively less than any other Smartphone.
In terms of Android itself, it sets new expectations as to how much people might pay for an Android devices. With the Motorola and Sony Ericsson Android devices almost certainly going to be a higher cost of ownership, it makes me question how successful their devices might be. Motorola and Sony Ericsson will need to significantly differentiate their devices. This differentiation may come through device quality or through extra software. I have ordered the new T-Mobile Pulse for development testing so I’ll also be able to assess and report on the quality of the device next week.
UPDATE: Maybe you can’t buy it now. Despite being available on the T-Mobile site:
"Problem with your T-Mobile order: Thanks for placing an order online for the T-Mobile Pulse. We’re sorry for the hold up with your order but at the moment this phone is out of stock. But we’re expecting a delivery of these very soon and we will let you know. As soon as they’re back in stock, we’ll send you an email once we’ve completed your order, which will include details of when the phone will arrive."
UPDATE2: It has now been removed from the T-Mobile site.
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