By The last major American carrier will finally be offering Android Phones – AT&T today announced that in the first half of 2010 they will launch 5 Android Phones from Dell, HTC and Motorola!
This is amazing news for American consumers who until now have had limited Android options on only select carriers. For quite awhile T-Mobile was the only US Carrier in the Android race and Sprint followed shortly after. When Verizon – the nation’s largest carrier – began an all out assault on the mobile market with their Droid campaign, there was no turning back. Now AT&T looks to capitalize on the growth and excitement of Android by offering a full portfolio of options.
What will those options be? We can’t be sure… but it seems as if at least 3 will be options exclusive to AT&T. Directly from the press release:
- A Motorola smartphone, powered by MOTOBLUR, with a unique form factor and an AT&T exclusive
- Dell’s first smartphone, based on the Android platform and an AT&T exclusive
- A HTC smartphone, based on the Android platform, and an AT&T exclusive
Anyone have guesses? I think its safe to say the Dell smartphone will be the Mini 3i and “exclusive” meaning here in the states. I’m excited to see how the phones stack up to existing options but even more eager to see how this will affect the iPhone on AT&T.
How will AT&T position Android vs. the iPhone? Here is the full press release from the announcement:
AT&T Launches Major Initiative to Bring ‘Apps to All’
Company Also Plans to Launch Five Android-Based Devices in First Half of 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6, 2010
newsreleaseAT&T today announced plans to launch five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. The company also announced a major initiative to expand the universe of mobile applications beyond smartphones to more mobile phones – and spur future app development for emerging consumer electronics devices, its U-verse TV platform, and enterprise and small business workplaces.
At the 4th annual AT&T Developer Summit in Las Vegas, executives outlined details including:
* New devices that will give customers the most robust choices of major operating systems (OS), including Android™, in the U.S.
* A goal to offer all major smartphone OS app stores
* An agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development for mid-range Quick Messaging Devices using BREW Mobile Platform. These devices are used by millions of customers who historically have not had the same convenient access as smartphone customers to the market’s hottest apps
* A new AT&T SDK (software developer kit) to help developers immediately begin to develop apps for these devices
* A significantly enhanced developer program and new relationships with global carriers that are intended to make it easier for developers to distribute apps in markets outside the U.S.
* Future initiatives to enable developers to create more apps for AT&T’s U-verse TV, emerging consumer electronics devices, and businesses
* A new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab and two new Innovation Centers, which will help developers and spur apps development“Applications help consumers realize the full value and benefits of mobile broadband networks, services and devices,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Today some AT&T customers can take advantage of more than 100,000 apps – but only if they have the right handset. Our goal is to bring more apps to millions more of our customers who want convenient access to the market’s hottest apps. At the same time, in the future, we plan to go well beyond mobile devices to spur apps development.”
In addition to ultimately giving more customers more choices of applications, the long-term strategic initiatives announced today will make it easier for developers to cost effectively create applications and reach broader audiences, and help AT&T drive data revenues.
Extend Smartphone Leadership
AT&T will further its leadership in smartphones with the planned launch of five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. Those devices, which are scheduled to be available during the first half of 2010, include:* A Motorola smartphone, powered by MOTOBLUR, with a unique form factor and an AT&T exclusive
* Dell’s first smartphone, based on the Android platform and an AT&T exclusive
* A HTC smartphone, based on the Android platform, and an AT&T exclusiveAT&T customers with these devices will benefit not only from the nation’s fastest 3G network but also the ability to simultaneously talk on the phone while surfing the Web or reading email. Customers can sign up for email notifications as more details are available at www.att.com/android.
In addition, AT&T announced its goal to lead the industry in application choices for smartphone customers by offering all major app stores. It will preload the corresponding store for each device — giving customers convenient access to thousands of apps optimized for their smartphone. Today, AT&T added to existing agreements with Nokia for Ovi store and Microsoft for Windows Marketplace by announcing an agreement for Android Market. It expects to announce more app store agreements in the near future and will offer carrier billing as an easy and convenient payment option for as many stores as possible.
‘Apps for All’ by Standardizing Apps Development with Brew Mobile Platform
De la Vega also announced a significant new agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development by adopting BREW Mobile Platform. With this agreement, AT&T intends to make BREW Mobile Platform its primary operating system platform for Quick Messaging Devices, one of the company’s fastest growing categories of devices.AT&T customers with these devices historically haven’t had the same convenient access as AT&T smartphone customers to thousands of compelling, new applications. Since AT&T launched its pioneering line-up of Quick Messaging Devices in fall 2008, about 30 percent of the company’s postpaid customers who are new or upgrading have purchased this type of device. AT&T is committed to spurring innovation and apps development for the millions of customers in this category.
Quick Messaging Devices are integrated devices that are value priced and texting centric; they have full QWERTY keyboards, either physical or virtual, and, since this past fall, full Web browsing capabilities. Customers with these devices are more likely to demand apps, subscribe to messaging and data plans, and are a large potential market for application developers, according to AT&T research.
AT&T Chief Marketing Officer David Christopher announced plans to begin rolling out Quick Messaging Devices with BREW Mobile Platform in the second half of the year, so that by year end 2011, about 90 percent of AT&T’s devices in this segment are planned to be based on BREW Mobile Platform. AT&T announced that Samsung will be its first device maker to launch a Quick Messaging Device featuring BREW Mobile Platform. HTC, LG and Pantech also are building devices featuring BREW Mobile Platform for planned availability in late 2010 or early 2011.
“Today, developers must essentially rebuild apps for different handsets and operating systems, increasing their costs, slowing the pace of innovation and stalling the delivery of mobile apps to customers,” Christopher said. “We want to tear down the barriers and make it much easier for developers to reach our customers – and for our customers to access apps. Moving to one platform for this fast growing segment of devices will help developers reach millions more customers who want easy access to the hottest mobile apps.”
To help developers jumpstart apps development for AT&T’s BREW Mobile Platform devices, Christopher announced a new AT&T SDK which features support for BREW Mobile Platform, continued support for Java and widgets, and includes tools to help developers tap into AT&T network capabilities as they design and code their applications. The new AT&T SDK is available starting today at sdk.developer.att.com.
Taking the AT&T Developer Program to the Next Level
AT&T has a longstanding commitment to the developer community. It was among the first major carriers to offer a developer program and has been rated the top carrier development program for the past three years by Evans Data. Today, AT&T executives also announced plans, including some launch schedules, for a series of new or enhanced developer resources including:Technical support for developers via live chat — something no other carrier, operating system provider or handset maker offers today – and a tripling of overall tech support by mid-2010.
* Revenue share featuring a standardized 70/30 split for third-party developers in the AT&T App Center.
* AT&T Sandbox, a virtual network environment for developers to test and evaluate applications, which is planned to be available in 2Q 2010.
* AT&T Developer Dashboard, a tool that will let developers track the status of their app once submitted to AT&T, support digital signing of business agreements with AT&T, allow developers to set prices for their apps, and provide performance metrics and customer satisfaction feedback. The dashboard is available now for enterprise application developers and the certification of emerging devices. And for AT&T’s consumer development community, the dashboard will also provide needed automation which is planned for the first quarter of 2010.
* New marketing and referral relationships announced today between AT&T and other global carriers using GSM, the de facto world standard for wireless technology. The companies intend to create streamlined processes that help developers make their applications available to their combined base of hundreds of millions of customers.
* AT&T Developer Council, an advisory group hosted by AT&T and made up of leading development and technology companies and other influencers, such as EA Games, Telenav and Bonfire Media.AT&T also announced a trial program with WaveMarket to make network location information accessible through Veriplace, WaveMarket’s cloud location aggregation platform currently in use by more than 1,000 developers. Veriplace allows SMS, Web, WAP and IVR developers to develop location-aware apps and services across device categories and participating carriers. The trial program will launch in the coming weeks.
AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan also said that a new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab will open in Atlanta in the second quarter to provide developer support for speech, location and messaging APIs (application programming interfaces). In addition, two new Innovation Centers, one in the East and one in the West, are planned for late 2010 to provide 3G and 4G RF (radio frequency) development support, testing and demos.
Head on over to AndroidForums.com to talk about AT&T’s new Android devices!
Unique form factor from Moto has to be the backflip. I’m really hoping this will include a newer version of Motoblur that Cliq can upgrade to.
I would think that Apple is now going to have to open up the iPhone to carriers other than AT&T when the current deal expires.
I can confirm the unique form factor is the backflip which, contrary to my personal opinion, I do think will work out. The others will be what we expect from android phones, even the Dell surprisingly. Only caveat is some internal questioning going on about the whole google/yahoo thing. Hopefully more understanding minds will prevail and give users the option of using google stuff instead of yahoo, although there are lots of people who like yahoo as well.
Im guessing… Moto Backflip…. Dell Mini… Some variant of the HTC Hero with different name but regardless good news for AT&T customers
Here’s hoping for a nice HTC Android 2.1 device on AT&T! Woo!
And let’s hope “first half of 2010” means soon, not like June or August :D
No mention of SE Xperia X10 – this is disappointing :(.
Nope, no experia. They’re going with Rogers for some reason, exclusive in Canada for the time being. @TK first half means spread across the first half, not all in a chunk, though the best one will be around the june time frame. Dell and HTC should be sooner though
Nexus One with AT&T’s version of 3G and that would be the icing on the cake.
HTC exclusive could be the Euro Hero?
Or something completely new.
“For quite awhile T-Mobile was the only US Carrier in the Android race and Sprint followed shortly after.”
Hmm, read that again.
WIND: Nexus One Works in Canada, We’re in Talks with Google
http://www.androidincanada.ca/android-phones/wind-nexus-one-works-in-canada-were-in-talks-with-google/
WIND is one of Canada’s new cell phone companys…
Why all the stuff about ATT software developers kits? Are these going to be dumbed down att proprietary phones?
Please be a Droid tablet! Please be a Droid tablet!
An old Hero would be truly embarrassing since the Nexus One is essentially a Hero Two: same form factor, upgraded OS, upgraded processor, upgraded screen.
This would be interesting to me if they lowered their data- and voiceplans
@cwrig
It appears that they have committed to the Android market, but they are also offering their own AT&T app store.. If I read that correctly they are giving developers a 70/30 split, for apps offered through their store. It may appeal to some as the AT&T app store will probably be smaller making the chance of their app being chosen greater.. need more details, but I would imagine that they would avoid allowing apps to be available at both stores (just a guess though)
@su2lly Agreed 100%. Hopefully we’ll get a “different” Nexus One, looking almost the same but running with true 3G glory.
@cwrig I think they’re trying to push the dumbphones market and trying to increase application portability between dumbphones. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make any sense. It’s not necessarily impossible for a company to make an SDK that will compile to Android, iPhone, and BREW, but it would be ridiculous and in my opinion a waste of millions of dollars. It just seems like AT&T is going back in time to address crossplatform issues in phones like my Nokia 6555. Why should we care? Your guess is as good as mine. Everyone wants a smartphone, or a SUPERphone as Google has termed the Nexus One. Only those who hardly use their phone or need a ‘beater’ phone would buy a dumbphone in this market.
My guess for HCT phone is the Legend.. updated Hero looks, and hopefully hardware.
My biggest hope is that since they took their time in finally agreeing to allow Android phones, and that they want the first run to be ‘exclusive’ they will be at least version 2.0 and have solid hardware. Let’s hope they don’t drop the ball.
The HTC phone is probably the Lancaster:
http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/05/24/htc-lancaster-is-a-qwerty-slider-with-android-for-atandt/
HTC better not be pushing a phone more capable then the Sprint Hero, all I am going to say…well other then the idea of AT&T telling iphone to bend over for an android suprise and random calling out of words like Biotch.
Would have been nice if Dell made it possible to purchase their upcoming Android phone directly from their website. This exclusivity crap does nothing but benefit the cell phone companies at the expensive of the hapless consumer. That’s one thing Google got right with the N1. Now all Google has to do is start selling the darn thing in Canada (where I am).
So…with a network that’s already struggling to hold up under the load of the iPhone, AT&T is going to vastly expand their smartphone offerings? Does this make sense to anyone?
well said, david
@Jim R
looks like the N1 is coming to Canada check out my earlier comment.
Yes well said indeedy Davis…that came storming through my mind as well
I would imagine the HTC may be a keyboard phone. As that helps round out the different customer preferences.
@G – I don’t know why Google didn’t just offer an option to ship to Canada. It’s not like this whole cross border shopping thing is rocket science. Nonetheless, getting the N1 via Wind is better than not getting it at all.
iPhone this, iPhone that, who cares? I’d rather have a Droid or N1 before I’d run to the iPhone. I think IF, and thats a big IF, they bring the iPhone to other carriers it’s too little too late. I wanted an iPhone on Verizon two years ago, but now I’m ready to embrace Android and all the the goodness it has to offer. I might have done the iPhone thing but my next phone is going to be a Droid or like Android phone. The iPhone did a lot and did it well but the reign of the iPhone is getting close to an end imo.
@Abrown….looking at all that Android is pumping out…I think u just maybe right
My question on the Backflip, and in other phones, is that it is a mediocre processor to begin with, but, how much of a difference will you notice in the speed of the interface when it upgrades from 1.5 to 2.1? I would like to see how it will operate.
At first I didn’t like the physical design of the backflip, but, after seeing some of the video’s with the touchpad and how the flip allows it to stand-up, I actually kinda like it.
Another idea for a future variant is to have the keyboard changed from a physical keyboard to a touchscreen keyboard only for the backside, which would also allow it to basically act almost like a Nintendo DS design.
My contract with AT&T is up on 10 Feb. I accidentally destroyed my HTC Tilt and had to buy a phone. I chose iPhone a year ago. AT&T piked me for +$30 more a month for the privilege of owning an Apple phone. I will be looking for an Android phone but the cost better be real or I’ll go elsewhere. Apple really got me mad by disabling the teather capability in their last update. Does anyone know if there is a teather capability with the Android OS?
Sorry about the rant, Android looks HOT!
I think that the motorola phone will be the backflip
@mike….
For one thing, the data plans will be constant- as the androids are “pda” style phones…and or smartphones… therefore the 30 bucks will be static….as it will be with any other carrier in the US…..and as far as tethering goes, there is tethering capabilities with any phone with a modem….jailbreak ur iphn if tethering is that important to you man…
Hells yeah att took ya long enuff. Da backflip is cool but not really my style. I’m waiting to c wut HTC gives us. A wanted NexusOne but don’t want tmobile I hope for a. Much improved nexusone on att 3g network. I hav $700 ready to buy my android phone at will. I had a 3gs but Iphone is old n tired so I sold it now using a BB9700 an I’m waiting to see wut android phones HTC will offer. Also eyeing the dell phone. Fingers crossed money ready. They need to announce it so I no wuts coming. Thanx Android. Maybe a new iphone4g maybe come n b worth keeping *shrugs* w/e lol
go with the htc android at&t is gonna release….it’s gonna nexusone-ish… wont be 700 bucks either thats whats nice….. nice thing is too at&t says all five androids will be released before the second half of the year.
Actually Nexus 1 does operate on att network now but you have to buy it from google outright. Not offered at upgrade price through att as of yet but it has been remade to run seemlessly on the att network. I believe its about 499
I spoke with an AT&T business line customer service rep today and he confirmed the HTC Desire (http://www.htc.com/www/product/desire/overview.html) and dell mini somethin somethin, and another, but i stopped listening after the HTC.
There are a few upcoming AT&T Android Phones. One is the Sony-Ericsson XPERIA X10A, which is an all touchscreen phone (4″), the HTC Desire (3.7″ screen), which is a newer variant of the HTC Hero on Sprint, the HTC Aria, which adds a side-sliding QWERTY Keyboard to the touchscreen (Most likely 3.2″), the Dell Mini 3 3.5″), which is another all touch phone, and a variant of the Samsung Galaxy s, which will have a 4″ Super AMOLED Touch Screen. All should be running Android OS 2.1, but the Samsung, which comes out later in the year might ship with 2.2. All should be upgradeable 2.2. Don’t worry, AT&T isn’t going to destroy these phones like they did with the Backflip. AT&T made yahoo the default search engine on a Google phone, which is not good.
Crossfire, when do you think HTC aria, or the next android phone will be released?
The Aria is coming out on June 20.
Does anyone know when the Xperia is coming out
does anyone know when the Samsung Captivate is going to be released? I am due for an upgrade in October, just wondering.