Google mobile is not just an iPhone clone

Washington, September 24 : The first mobile phone that runs Google Inc.'s software, though looks identical with Apple Inc.'s iPhone, provides several extra facilities.

Launched in the U.S. market on October 22, the phone comes with a trackball, a slide-out keyboard and easy access to Google's e-mail and mapping programs.

With its launch, Google has debuted as a cell phone software provider.

Wireless carrier T-Mobile will begin selling the G1 phone for 179 dollars with a two-year contract in its stores.

The phone will be sold only in the U.S. cities where the company has rolled out its faster, third-generation wireless data network.

In other areas, people will be able to buy the phone from T-Mobile's Web site.

The phone does work on T-Mobile's slower data network, but it is optimised for the faster networks. It can also connect at Wi-Fi hotspots.

It can also connect at Wi-Fi hotspots.

"It's just very exciting for me as a computer geek to be able to have a phone that I can play with and modify and innovate upon just like I have with computers in the past," CBS News quoted Sergey Brin, one of Google's founders, as saying at the launch event.

Larry Page, another found of the company, said that the mobile phone industry was a tremendous opportunity for Google.

The company hopes mobile phones will provide even more ways for people to interact with its advertising network.

ANI