The news comes as the groundbreaking phone is about to receive a raft of brand new features, including a touch-screen keyboard and video record and playback, which will be available in May thanks to the comprehensive Android 1.5 update.
Since it launched in October 2008, the T-Mobile G1 has proved a hit with UK consumers, outstripping sales of all other T-Mobile handsets with sales rapidly approaching 100,000 units. G1 owners have praised its slide-out QWERTY keyboard and the ability to switch easily between functions like text, email, instant messaging or social networking.
Customers have also commended the G1’s high speed data connection and full internet browser which makes the most of T-Mobile’s award winning 3G broadband network. In fact, recent independent research shows that 90% of G1 owners are extremely satisfied with the device and the value they get with their price plan and would recommend the G1 to a friend.
The T-Mobile G1 is set to get even better in May when all new and existing G1 owners will receive the ‘Cupcake’ update over the air. This is made possible by the G1’s Android operating system, which means that customers receive updates whenever new features become available, so that their phone is always running on the latest software.
Another new feature is the touchscreen keyboard, giving T-Mobile G1 owners a choice between the touchscreen keyboard for writing short bursts of text such as Twitter updates and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard for writing longer messages such as emails.
The software update allows G1 owners to use the 3.2 megapixel camera to film videos and upload them straight to YouTube, as well as uploading photos straight to their personal Picasa Web Album.
There are numerous other new features and improvements with the new update, including new widgets for the calendar and the music player, alongside new zoom functions on the G1’s camera and improvements to the e-mail client and the web browser.
Richard Warmsley, head of internet and entertainment, T-Mobile, said: “Sales of the T-Mobile G1 have exceeded our expectations; we are very excited to hit the milestone of 100,000 units sold in just over six months. Our customer research has shown us that nine out of ten G1 users would recommend it to a friend and this is down to the great user experience, web browsing via T-Mobile’s award winning broadband network, the value a customer receives on our 18 month price plans, and G1 features such as the slide-out QWERTY keyboard.”
Warmsley continued: “We’re committed to delivering a market leading internet service, and are excited that with the G1 and Android Market customers can tailor that experience to make it more relevant to how they want to use their phone. We’re looking forward to launching another groundbreaking phone on Android later this year.”
The T-Mobile G1 complete with the new features is available for free on T-Mobile Combi and Flext price plans. The most popular price plan is Combi30, including 700 minutes unlimited texts, and unlimited high speed internet powered by T-Mobile’s award-winning broadband network all for just £35 per month.