T-Mobile G1 pre-orders: 1.5 million units and going strong
If you even had the slightest doubt about the G1’s popularity, here’s some news for you: T-Mobile initially ran out of pre-order stock completely and had to refill it. They’ve now hit 1.5 million in pre-order sales and, with the device being released in less than two weeks, are surely going to surpass any goals they’d anticipated by year’s end. Phones had been ringing off the hook and the G1 site was down for a while, so there is no doubt that this “Fisher-Price-looking” phone wasn’t ugly or awkward to everyone. It doesn’t hurt that the G1 is sporting Google’s Android, either. As a matter of fact, we’d venture to say that Android is the number one selling point of the device so far - followed very quickly by the fact that this is T-Mobile’s first decent touch screen device. A milli a milli a milli and a half ain’t so bad for pre-order sales and Google and T-Mobile are probably rubbing their hands together and cackling at the potential of this device/platform’s potential in raking in some serious dough.
Seems to me the REAL reason why these dated HTC devices are pre-ordered at all is because TMO’s current phone selection is terrible. The only reason people have TMO in the Mid-Atlantic region where I’m at is because it’s flat-out the cheapest. Anyone who cares about there hardware go elsewhere. And don’t give me any crap about the customer service because I’ve been with all four of our major US carriers and they all suck!!
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It’s so easy to hate. I thought haterz weren’t allowed on this site BG? Good job T-Mobile, Google and HTC.
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LOL @ the a milli a milli a milli and half line is funny.
[lil Jon's Voice] Yeah!!!!!!!!!!! what!!!!!!!!!!!!! OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I am inclined to agree with Ben. I have pre-ordered the G1 and have played with it briefly at the local T-Mobile store. I like T-Mobile but their phones aren’t what they should be. I tried the iPhone 3G but couldn’t get a decent signal so I returned it. If T-Mobile had the new iPhone I would be a happy camper. What I experienced with the G1 during the few minutes I played with it demonstrated to me that it is not of the new iPhone’s caliber. Maybe after using it for a longer period of time will change my mind. For the yet to be fulfilled smartphone in me, I hope so.
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I am not surprised to see Tmobile’s success with this so far. Excellent intro video, heavy on the features but light on the price tag.
If they decide to make “data only” plan offer for this so customers aren’t forced to pick up voice, the sky will be the limit.
I have a Curve and this would be my second phone.
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@ Ben -
Seems to me you had a good drank of your “hater-ade” before logging on to the site. 1.5 million and counting can’t be wrong…. Seems to me the REAL reason they are being pre-ordered at the rate that they are is quite transparent - it’s called Android, you might want to look into it.
@ Greg -
Get an iPhone and be a happy camper on T-Mo… that’s not an excuse, seeing as how they can be hijacked, jailbroken, unlocked, etc.
Gotta love a couple of haters…..
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Not a hater but damn this shit is ugly. Why couldnt they drop Android in an HTC HD looking device…
Oh well, more Android love sure to be around the corner
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1.5 million is amazing for an unproven OS/device that got little to no advertisement and out of the tech world is pretty unknown. seriously that is amazing.
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That is true–there’s no barrage of TV or internet ads for this thing like with the iPhone or Blackberrys, yet this thing’s selling like hotcakes. I guess it’s just goes to show the power of Google!
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Any real source on this? The story references a guy’s blog … no doubt the G1’s doing well, but 1.5 sounds like an awful lot considering the phone isn’t that sexy, and the Android platform is hard to market to a mass market.
Seriously though, T-Mobile sold about 600,000 smartphones in last quarter. This just seems a bit too much. The iPhone 3G sold 1 million in 3 days in multiple markets, is the G1 really getting more than that in one market?
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I can see 1.5 million being true. Just think about the multitudes of t-mobbers who have been stuck with edge. Now a 3G/wifi phone with touchscreen comes along with a nice looking OS. not everybody wants to get WinMo or blackberry So whats left? Android.
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Ive been a Tmobile user since the Voicestream days. Had the first GPRS phone from them. I got my G1 on order, and all I have to say: Fucking Redemption. There I said it. Now all you Haters can flame my post. Bitches the lot of you.
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another, little financial website that confirms
“the motley fool”
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2008/10/09/google-were-fresh-out-of-androids.aspx
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Big ups to Tmo and HTC. I think i should buy some stock in them now before the sales come and when they do, so will the MONEYYYYYYYYYYYYY
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Why is it soooooo hard to believe that some ADULTS like a phone that works well and aren’t that concerned with their phone being SHINY?!
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WOW! with 99.99 unlimited, they cost the same as anyone else, and (i’m in Mid-Atlantic region) their other plans cost more than at&t and sprint.
sounds to me like what we have here, is a jealous iphone user.
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Mark Flores: please learn to use proper grammar. how can you get to be a writer for a major blog, and not have a basic grasp of the language.
2ndly, if you think the g1 looks like a fisher price, you have clearly not actually held one in your hands.
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@Fireeye Thanks for the input. First off, my name is spelled with the letter “c” as shown in my comments and under the author list. I think my grammar and grasp of the English is perfectly fine, but if you want to nitpick, you should learn how to use capital letters after periods. In English, we typically use capital letters to start a sentence.
We also prefer “secondly” to “2ndly.” The latter being known as “txt tlk” is typically frowned upon amongst writers with half a brain. Lastly, the phrase “you have clearly not actually held one in your hands” is grammatically incorrect. It’s quite horrid, actually.
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@Fireeye Oh, one last thing…
“how can you get to be a writer for a major blog, and not have a basic grasp of the language.”
That should have ended in a question mark. Also, there should have been no comma between the words “blog” and “and.” That would be an incorrect comma splice.
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1.5 million units pre-ordered does seem like an inflated number. I am curious to see how many of these get unlocked and make their way overseas. It could be worse that the first gen iPhone because the price point is lower. Time will tell!
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damn Fireye… Marc just pwned you all the way to next independence day. That was some hardcore pwnage Marc. Great stuff.
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Very clever comeback.
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Hmm… my last quip at Fireeye’s comeback must have made his comment disappear.
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Marc:
Granted there are devices floating around the globe that are a bit more aesthetically appealing, I really don’t think this device is as ugly as some people have claimed and definitely doesn’t appear Fisher-Price-looking” especially after playing with this device myself. have you ever actually held, played with or demo’d this device before writing this article?
The device feels really solid in the hands and the call quality sounds great over 3G and EDGE.
My only gripe was that there was no video recording or ST BT out of the box, but these can be added with FW updates or 3rd party content applications so like with anything Android nothing is absolutely final. The platform is open and will always be improving.
And just think, you’ll be able to use all the data you want on the phone, tether to your notebook and get unlimited messaging for $ 35 per month. No need to plunk down $ 60 per month for two years to the at&t on a laptop aircard or usb modem anymore when you got this. And it works over WiFi too to boot.
I’m personally gunning for the white model and will wait till its available at retail outlets to make my move.
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@melissa and to everyone else thinking I am trashing T-Mobile and the G1…
My post reinforces the popularity of this device, both in my first line and the title of the post itself. Still, it doesn’t change how I feel about the look of the device (”look” not “feel” being the operative word). We’re all major gadget geeks here and we all have particular tastes. This is a solid device and the Android platform will undoubtedly be amazing. I still think the phone could have been sexier, but that’s all a matter of preference. Not hating on G1 or T-Mobile (I’ve been with them for a while).
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