T-Mobile USA continued its strong support of Google's Android platform with the announcement of its long-rumored myTouch 3G Slide smartphone, to be released in June.
The carrier said the device will not only feature a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, but several customized software enhancements as well. One is called the "Faves Gallery," which presents up to 20 contacts and the different ways to communicate with them, including calls, texts, email, instant messaging and social networking updates, in a dedicated application. The app also allows users to contact these people without launching separate applications.
Another software upgrade, dubbed myModes, allows users to create different themes with home screen apps, widgets and wallpapers. And finally, the phone sports a "Genius Button" that allows users to use voice commands for activities such as making calls, composing and sending texts and emails and conducting Web searches. Many of the upgrades are similar to ones found in HTC's Sense user interface; HTC designed the myTouch 3G Slide.
The phone runs on Android 2.1 and HSPA 7.2 technology, and has a 3.4-inch HVGA screen, a 5-megapixel camera and a pre-installed 8 GB microSD card. T-Mobile did not provide pricing or a specific release date.
In other Android news, LG officially announced its first Android phone for the U.S. market, the Ally, in conjunction with its marketing campaign for the movie "Iron Man 2." The phone will sport the Android 2.1 platform, but LG did not release full specifications for the device. LG said the phone will be available May 20 though it didn't announce a carrier partner.
For more:
- see this release
- see this Engadget post
- see this GigaOM post
- see this CNet article
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