FCC approval suggests November Android debut

HTC's Dream handset will bring Android to the masses this fall.

(Credit: FCC)

It looks like Google's Android software will make its formal debut in November, now that the Federal Communications Commission has given its seal of approval to the HTC Dream handset.

Engadget noticed that HTC's "DREA100" handset has been approved for sale in the U.S. after passing the FCC's wireless tests. T-Mobile is going to be the carrier for the Dream handset, which will apparently have a BlackBerry-like "jog ball" as the primary controller.

After picking through the rest of the documents available on the FCC's Web site, VentureBeat believes that T-Mobile, HTC, and Google will launch the phone on November 10, since a confidentiality request attached to the application asks the FCC to keep details secret until that date. Last week The New York Times reported that October was the likely launch date, but it would be kind of silly to ask the FCC to stay quiet for a month about a handset that will be torn apart and analyzed within 12 hours of its debut.

[Androidal]

I'm afraid that first Android phone will be available in USA only.

[dehall622]

i thought android was supposed to have a touchscreen, not a nipple

[JCPayne]

The Android phones will come with whatever their manufacturers (Motorola, Samsung, LG, etc) put in it...

[letsgethightech]

I thought Verizon was going to open their network in 2008. hmmmm

[jabailo]

What a bore. I don't want a "smart phone"...I want an Acer Aspire One with WiMax...and I don't want to pay for it...I want them to give me one as part of my Internet access plan. And I wan to use Skype with it to "call" people for free.

[paulej]

I don't think it will be a bore, but I do think it's just a step. I, too, look for the day when I have a phone where "voice" and data are not viewed as separate applications. Further, I'm looking forward for the day when we might be able to use our "phone" devices to communicate with people via a number of different physical devices all working together. That's the vision of the new ITU work called H.325. This will be quite interesting, for sure. We've hardly scratched the surface of what is possible with mobile communications.

[andeyejah]

I hope its better than apples offering.Apple are seriously the greediest tech company out there.Everything they sell is seriously overpriced its just pure piggery!.I hope they dont release it on contract only and totally overcharge.In Ireland they charge 45 euro minimum per month for a measly 1gig download!.Only 250 minutes and 150 txts.Pure PIGGERY!.I hope they can beat this pathetic offering.

[AppleSuxLeo]

If they had named it "Anadrol" instead of "Android"...it would have been twice as powerful ; Like an OS on steroids !!!