Report: T-Mobile First To Sell Android Cell Phone

August 15, 2008 11:05 a.m. EST

New York, NY (AHN) - T-Mobile is expected to be the first carrier to offer a cell phone based on Google's free software Android. The handset manufactured by HTC could be available in October, a news report said Friday.

Executives with HTC, T-Mobile and Google hope to announce the new phone, codenamed "dream", in September to take advantage of the holiday shopping market, according to the New York Times. Timing depends on gaining FCC approval.

The handset, which insiders say matches a video shown on YouTube, includes a slide-out keyboard and touch-screen interface like Apple's iPhone.

Neither T-Mobile nor HTC would comment, but said the phone is on track for the fourth quarter.

Google is making the Android software available for free to carriers, but so far T-Mobile is the only one to set a delivery timeframe.