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NEW YORK--Nearly a year after word of a "Google phone" started spreading, T-Mobile USA and the search giant are revealing the first mobile device to run on Google's Android operating system. Anticipated is a smartphone manufactured by Taiwanese electronics maker HTC called Dream. Below is CNET News' live coverage of the event here, which has concluded.

Click here for full coverage of Google Android.

10:15 a.m. ET: We're waiting for the event to start. As noted by my colleague Stephen Shankland, some photos of T-Mobile's G1 phone--also known as the HTC Dream--are emerging shortly before the official debut here.

10:30 a.m.: T-Mobile USA's chief technology and innovation officer, Cole Brodman, takes the stage and introduces everyone for the launch. Andy Rubin of Google takes the stage, as does the chief technology officer of Deutsche Telekom, Christopher Schläffer.

10:35 a.m.: Schläffer announced that Deutsche Telekom is also announcing the Android phone across the pond on T-Mobile by the end of the year. He is talking about how Deutsche Telekom has grown its data revenue by 43 percent. Traffic has grown 250 percent, and the company is ready to capitalize further.

A first official view of the G1 phone, aka the HTC Dream. Google's Android operating system, on which it runs, lets people view photos and add them as shortcuts to the phone's desktop.

(Credit: T-Mobile/CNET Networks)

10:40 a.m.: Andy Rubin takes the stage and introduces Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. He starts off by congratulating everyone, from Andy Rubin to the whole T-Mobile team. We're 15 minutes into the press conference, and we still haven't seen the phone. That said, Chou described the device and called it iconic.

10:45 a.m.: Brodman says the company is going to drive change by working with third parties. No more fuzzy pictures, and no more unsubstantiated blog posts. "Here is the G1." And he reveals it. They start to play a video on the big screen. Everyone in the crowd holds up their phones and cameras to get a picture of it.

A judge in California has ruled that Sprint Nextel's early termination fees are illegal and said the wireless operator should pay back $18.2 million in collected fees to consumers, a decision that could help sway decisions on similar cases throughout the country.

The preliminary decision released earlier this week is a major blow to Sprint and to other phone companies in their battle to defend themselves against angry consumers who say the fees imposed on them when they leave the companies' services are unlawful.

Verizon Wireless, which was also being sued in California, has already settled its case, agreeing to pay $21 million to settle all claims against the company. And after the decision against Sprint, there's a chance that cases against T-Mobile and AT&T could also be settled.

Editor's note: Tell us what you look for in a cell phone--vote in any or all of the four polls below, and elaborate in the TalkBack section at the end of this story.

Choosing a cell phone has become a lot like buying a car.

No matter what model or brand you buy, they all have some of the basic features and functionality. Cars come with a steering wheel, an engine, brakes, and four wheels. And all cell phones come with some mechanism for dialing and a small speaker and microphone for making calls. But beyond that, appearance, premium features, reliability, and cost become a huge part of what draw consumers to one phone--or car--or another.

Over the past few years it seems like the choice in cell phones has exploded. I know it may not feel like that in the carrier-subsidized phone market of the United States, but if you look globally and in the design centers of major cell phone manufacturers, you'll see hundreds of models of different phones that consumers can choose from.

And as cell phone penetration nears the saturation point in most developed markets, like the U.S., manufacturers are challenged now more than ever to come up with cool designs and features that consumers really want. All at prices that people can afford.

Cell phone manufacturers talk about turning cell phones into TVs and music players. They see phones as navigation devices and mini computers that can be used to surf the Internet or check e-mail. Phones today have cameras and video recorders that allow people to photograph and document their lives. Of course they also let you talk to your heart's content.

But what features do people really want on their phones? Which styles are they most attracted to? These are questions that phone manufacturers are increasingly asking themselves.

The New York Times published a story on Friday that said cell phone industry executives need to "understand the psyche of consumers and why they pick one phone over another." Their mission, the story pointed out, is to be a kind of Dr. Phil for cell phones.

Korean cell phone maker LG Electronics supposedly asks focus groups to keep a journal about how they feel about the design of certain cell phones, the article says. LG executives also regularly attend home and design shows "looking for broader trends in popular culture." Nokia's executives recently spent time on a retreat trying to figure out what consumers will want not just next year, but for the next three to seven years.

On some level, I think consumers are attracted to design and coolness whether they realize it or not. Motorola's Razr was a good example of this. The ultrathin phone came on the market in 2004 and was quickly deemed a hit. But it didn't really do anything different from all the other cell phones on the market. What made it unique was its slim, new design. Not only did it look cool, but it was also functional from a design perspective. As cell phones became an item no one left home without, people loved the idea of a carrying a device that could easily slip into a pocket or a small purse.

But the Razr became passe as the phone became ubiquitous and other companies copied its design.

Then along came the iPhone. I have to admit I had never before seen such a frenzy for any kind of consumer-electronics device. Even before the iPhone went on sale people were buzzing about it. Apple, which had hit home runs in terms of design and functionality with the iPod music player, was expected to come up with something cool. And it did. But unlike the Razr that simply packaged a standard cell phone into a different form, Apple combined both cool design with innovative features and functionality.

And now it's clear that Apple has set the bar in terms of what people expect in a cell phone. Cool design is a must, but functionality and services are also important.

This leads me back to the issue mentioned at the beginning of this blog post. Which features do people really want on a cell phone? Simply putting anything and everything an engineer can think of into a tiny device doesn't make much sense. But it seems that is what some manufacturers are trying to do. At the same time, devices that focus on a few high-end features to the exclusion of others make it difficult for consumers to choose a device that fits their needs and wants.

Take two of Nokia's latest phones. At the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month, the company introduced the 6210 Navigator, a phone developed specifically for navigation, with a built-in compass and easy access to Nokia's map and navigation service. It also introduced the 6220 Classic that comes with a 5-megapixel camera with geotagging that links easily to Flikr.

I think each of these phones is great. They offer very cool features and functionality. But as a consumer, which one do I buy? To be honest, I thought the 6210 Navigator was a great phone for people who like to travel. You can use it to access maps and city guides for destinations around the world, making it the device to have on trips. It basically eliminates the need to carry around a Lonely Planet guide book and a map, two things I always travel with when I'm in a foreign city.

The 6220 Classic also is a very cool phone. It takes very good-quality pictures and, with a couple of quick clicks, will upload your photos to a Flickr account--features that might make it a good replacement for the small digital camera I often travel with.

My initial thought when I saw these phones was that it would be great if I could get this excellent camera with geotagging and an embedded Flickr link in the 6220 Classic combined with the full lineup of the cool navigation features of the 6210 Navigator. The reason is simple: I usually take pictures when I am on vacation in a place I don't know. That also happens to be when and where I need a map. And if there was a really good camera built into my phone, I wouldn't have to carry around my little digital camera too.

When I mentioned this to a Nokia marketing executive at the GSMA trade show, he cocked his head, squinted his eyes, and looked at me like I was from another planet. I tried to explain to him that it makes more sense to bundle certain features based on the type of consumer you are targeting. For example, a navigation phone with an awesome camera and a built-in link to Flickr appeals to me as a frequent traveler. But when those two main functions are put on two different phones, I might have a harder time deciding which one to get.

He argued that these phones were designed for two different kinds of consumers, one interested in navigation, the other in photography.

So yes, there's a degree of exasperation on both sides of this equation. I recognize that phone manufacturers may be faced with an impossible task. No two people are alike. Features that are important to me might not be important to someone else, and vice versa. So I don't expect perfection. But if cell phone makers could get as close to my dream as possible, I'd be happy.

Google's cell phone strategy took shape Monday with the announcement of a new open software platform and an alliance of wireless heavyweights that will help form the development community for the planned phones.

Google has long been rumored to be working on software for cell phones that would integrate its applications. On Friday, CNET News.com reported that Google's plans went beyond simply developing software and instead included a whole consortium of companies working to develop an open platform cell phone application.

"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks," Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt said in a statement. "Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models."

Google is officially unveiling Android, the new mobile phone software, during a press conference Monday morning. Thirty-four companies have said they will join the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance that will work on developing applications on the Android platform. Members of the alliance include mobile handset makers HTC and Motorola, U.S. operator, T-Mobile, and chip maker Qualcomm.

The Android platform consists of an operating system, middleware, a user-friendly interface and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008, Google said in a press release.

The Android software stack is expected to provide handset makers and wireless operators an open platform they can use to develop new and innovative applications. The new software will compete directly with smartphone software from other companies like Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Palm and Research in Motion. Unlike some of these mobile operating systems, Android will not be tied to a specific device. Instead, the software will be able to work on a broad array of devices from handset makes such as Motorola, HTC, Samsung, and LG just to name a few.

The idea is that through the developer's alliance, handset makers and cell phone operators will be able to develop more user-friendly services and devices that help bring more of the Internet functionality onto mobile devices. And because of this open model, the companies involved also hope that by scaling the development, advanced functionality will be able to hit the market for less expensive mobile devices that will have more compelling and rich Internet services with more user-friendly interfaces.

"Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience." Peter Chou, CEO of HTC said in a statement.

Companies in the alliance plan on releasing an access software development kit next week.

Read on for the official Google press release.

... Read more

Looking for a cool place to hang out and maybe buy a phone? Helio, a mobile operator targeting tech-savvy hipsters, hopes people will do both when they stop by its retail stores, the first of which opened today in Santa Monica, Calif.

(Credit: Helio)

A cross between an Ikea furniture showroom and a nightclub lounge, the new Helio stores are supposed to be a place where users can casually test Helio services, browse the Web or watch programming on a 60-inch plasma display. Helio Stores also feature pods that take the place of rows of regular phone displays found at other carriers' stores where customers can sample devices and even sign-up for a service plan without having to wait in line at a cash register.

Taking a cue from another hip and fashionable tech retailer (think Apple, but not different this time), Helio also plans to use its stores to offer workshops, tutorials and special after hours events like musical performances and art shows.

The 4,000-square-foot Santa Monica store is the first of five the operator plans to open by early 2007. The company also plans to open stores in Denver, Palo Alto, and New York.

The maiden store is opening with an exhibit of underground artists, including Tim Biskup, Luke Chueh, and Suragluxe. Helio customers or "members", as the company calls them, can download digital versions of the art as wallpaper for their Helio device or purchase original pieces from the store.

(Credit: Linksys)

Yahoo has come out with a new cordless phone made by Linksys that allows free PC-to-PC calls using Yahoo's voice-over-Internet Protocol service. But beyond the calls, what I like about the new CIT310 is that it also has some other basic Yahoo functions built in.

For example, a couple clicks and you can get local weather reports. You can also do searches to get phone numbers and addresses for local restaurants, for instance. Users can also use their Yahoo Phone Out accounts and Yahoo Phone In accounts to make and receive calls.

The phone comes with a base station that plugs into a regular phone jack to provide regular phone service. You can also switch between the regular phone service and their Yahoo Messenger with Voice service by clicking a button on the phone.

At $99 it's on par with most regular cordless phones. Amazon actually has it for $79.99. You can find more information about where to buy the phone at MySimon.com.

(Credit: Globalstar)

Satellite phones have traditionally been big, bulky monsters that look more like bricks than actual phones. But just like their cellular phone cousins, satellite phones are also getting smaller.

On Thursday Globalstar debuted the world's smallest, lightest handset for use on a global satellite network. The new GSP-1700 mobile satellite telephone, which operates on the Globalstar satellite network in more than 120 countries and six continents around the world, is nearly half the weight of the company's current satellite handsets weighing in at approximately 7.1 ounces or 203 grams. And it's close to 45 percent smaller than Globalstar's other satellite phones. The lithium-ion battery is designed to provide users with four hours of talk time and 36 hours of standby time. The GSP-1700 is being manufactured by Qualcomm.

Are you tired of fighting with your family or room mates over which show to watch from your DVR's "saved" list?

Well, those fights will soon be a thing of the past. Motorola showed off its multi-room DVR set-top box, called the Home Media DVR, in New York City on Thursday to a small crowd of journalists. This new DVR acts like a media hub in the home. The new DVR stores all the recorded movies and TV shows, but viewers can access them from other rooms in the house.

This means mom can watch "Project Runway" in the living room, and junior can watch the latest recorded episode of "Pimp My Ride" in the bedroom. Users can also record or delete programs from these other rooms.

Verizon Communications is already using the Motorola box as part of its Fios TV service. Motorola hasn't yet announced other cable operators or satellite TV providers using the box.

Motorola also said the new DVR could be accessed by cell phones like the Motorola RAZR or the Q. So if you're on the road and you realize that you forgot to set the DVR to record your favorite show, you can access the DRV guide from your phone and press "record".

"We've added a new dimension to the DVR experience," said John Burke, corporate vice president and general manager of digital video solutions at Motorola. "Now, you not only have control over when you watch a show, but where you watch it, and on which device you watch it."