T-Mobile to Offer Free Google Email on the G1?

Reports have it that T-Mobile is planning to offer up the new T-Mobile G1 (aka HTC Dream) with free access to Google’s Gmail service. Makes sense to me.

Now, I can hear you saying ‘But Gmail is already free!?’. That’s true. The catch here is that T-Mobile would offer up the Gmail service without any data charges being added. So basically it would mean unlimited email for G1 users, as long as they use their Gmail account. I should note too, that YES, ads will be displayed (of course), but from everything I’ve seen so far, the ads are non-intrusive, and really not that bad at all.

What do you think? Is this the unique twist that will boost sales of the Android phone? Google has to look for something to drive sales. This added extra feature could glean some rewards… We’ll have to wait and see…

[Via: Fortune]

About The Author

James Falconer

James was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. Almost 15 years ago he started out in the 'real world' as a web and graphic designer. Through the years he has finely tuned his skills in SEO, internet marketing, conversion strategy, and project management. To date, he runs his own successful consulting business where he advises companies all over the globe. A co-founder of www.crackberry.com, and sole proprietor of www.mactropolis.com, James in recent years has become very active in the tech blogosphere. Online community building and strategy is fast becoming one of his passions. Watch for James' no frills attitude, unique perspective and to-the-point comments here on IntoMobile!

Simon Sage

I think this is awesome, and exactly the kind of thing that will make the G1 a distinctly Google phone. Good on T-Mo for getting on board with something a little different, even though it might hurt them in the traffic department. It’s also a good experiment in mobile advertising to see if it’ll actually pay off.

Question: If you don’t have a data plan, can you still click through on ads? Won’t that incur browsing costs?
NGEddie

Says to me that they are missing the point and showing their inexperience in the mobile market.
In the UK at least, the iPhone comes with unlimited data plans and many WiMo devices has unlimitred data as the default option.

Seems like they’re aiming for the low-end smartphone market, but that isn’t where their geek/fanboy target market sits. I think they’ll piss a lot of people off.
mohi

I think this is really a NEW idea and people would like it.
nice selling tool for G1
mohi

I have the same question like Simon
vinkap

AFAIK you have to sign up for a data plan to get a G1 phone. So how is it a “free” access to GMail??
Coffeejolts

I think what is being missed is that they are going to give free “push” gmail. So, your phone will be notified somehow every time you get an email at your gmail account. That is different than having to poll the account for changes.

@NGEddie: Stateside, there is a 5Gb limit on the iPhone’s data plan. I look for T-Mobile to up their limit to something north of 5Gb after they get all the kinks out of their 3G network. They are only now rolling out 3G here.
anónimo

“…without any data charges being added” would imply that it won’t count against your 1GB soft-capped “unlimited” data plan, which is still a sad distinction. *shrug* Like GMail uses that much bandwidth anyway… add Amazon’s MP3/H264 store and I might be more inclined to care.

That’s all relatively moot, however… the fact that the “unlimited” data plan has a limit is a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen; either the carriers are going to have to back off the limits or stop selling “unlimited” data plans (which is the only case where this story matters).
some dude in queens

this is great cuz you can link other email accounts to the gmail account, this way you get all you email for free
some dude in queens

well believe it or not thats has me how called in to tmobile this morning and spoke to a supervisor, cus i was concerned about the cap being that i just order the g1 with the unlimited data plan, they said it was not supposed to be there and they will have the web team take it down, but i guess they reworded
some dude in queens

but he went on to say that the data is totaly unlimited no caps
pro-consumer

I assume Rogers here in Canada waits for other provider before it decide to get in Canada. Rogers offer free web browsing but only what is available through their web portal (limited / Rogers only)

going directly become ultra expensive … ridicules,
rip off!

There were devices that Rogers was selling, and by
purpose request WiFi to be disabled on those devices, even they are equipped.

Conclusion: comparing T1 offers free gmail access and what we have here in Canada it is better.

p.s. Note – going Rogers plan, are limited with bandwidth, downloaded data, cap everything … from experience