In case you needed yet another reason to nerd out with Android developers for a couple days in scenic San Francisco, here's a doozy: every attendee is getting hooked up with an unlocked
HTC Magic in black plus 30 days of voice and 3G data service. While the carrier isn't specified, we certainly wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being T-Mobile, which would make this an
AWS version of the phone -- and a probable precursor to the presumed
myTouch 3G release (or whatever they end up calling it) later this year. In the meantime, I/O attendees -- and yes, that includes you,
Ross Miller -- we hate you out of sheer, raging envy.
Update: Confirmed -- it's a T-Mobile SIM, hence AWS 3G!
Update 2: It seems Google is calling this phone the "Ion," but make no mistake, it's an HTC Magic.
posted May 27th 2009 at 3:48PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
robertniknam @ May 27th 2009 4:19PM
Just wanted to be first! HAHA ..|.. LOOOOL JK
AndrewNoNumbers @ May 27th 2009 5:06PM
Ugly.
Stefan Constantinescu @ May 27th 2009 4:38PM
Photos of the device being unboxed on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35159454@N06/tags/googleion/
The phone has a custom back panel with the Google I/O logo and the boot screen also says Google I/O
Shame I couldn't be there, hope everyone who is there is having a fun time!
AndrewNoNumbers @ May 27th 2009 5:06PM
Holy shit! Totally worth the plane ticket to SanFran. I should've grabbed the I/O passes Engadget was giving away a couple days ago. And that black beats the heck out of boring old white.
CJ @ May 27th 2009 7:20PM
eeeehh.... A nice phone, but I'll stick with the G1 for now. A physical keyboard is what makes-or-breaks devices for me.
bk_brownie @ May 27th 2009 7:24PM
when are they going to release it for tmobile already?? I was hoping in june!
Anthony @ May 27th 2009 7:29PM
I think we are all hoping they release it in June. Oh well.
Sheldon @ Jun 9th 2009 12:57PM
Great phone until I tried to put my ATT sim card in and use it on a different network . . . still can't get the data connection to work and ATT has been helpful but they can't do much since it's not one of their phones. I don't get the point of having SIM cards and "unlocked" phones if you can't use them on other carriers. Even if I get the data to work supposedly it'll be edge only!
dntPanic @ Jun 10th 2009 12:18PM
Really dude? The beauty of unlocked phones is you CAN use them on compatible networks. I've been enjoying my 3gless G1 on AT&T since Dec. Thank some awesome developers for root access to the OS and you have an open source platform with true full access.
Long live our Android overlords!
dntPanic @ Jun 10th 2009 12:25PM
i mean... google AT&T apn settings and set your jimmiejank up. You found engaget online, why not "g1 data at&t settings"
Sheldon @ Jun 10th 2009 1:08PM
Hey, thanks man! I couldn't find any info about that APN stuff and kept searching for "g2 data att" or "google i/o phone on ATT network" and nothing ever came up (except this blog). I was about to give up and now it's working!! Sucks that it's not 3G data . . . any suggestions on how to fix that?
tom @ Jul 30th 2009 2:57PM
To mr panic..... I currently have an iphone that i want to trade for the magic, its from the google conference.. Working w htc right now to even get the phone to run on edge, as of now it will not access internet unless wifi...... Seems like edge can happen, being a US version can it run attt 3g?? Not a tech person at all, att, even htc cant seem to help, anyway you can? Please.............