Top 5 pros and cons of T-Mobile's Google phone

So the day has finally come for Google to step into the smart phones market, if only at the browser level. Nonetheless, their Android browser on the G1 phone by HTC could be a major encroaching step into the market niche that Apple was already trying to carve away from Research in Motion with its iPhone. But does the G1 have what it takes to beat out the iPhone?

My guess is probably not. Not this phone at least- but the Android could end up crippling the iPhone if it's open source platform catches on.

Sources at T-Mobile say there could be new Android-based phones out as early as November.

Here's a list of the top positive and negative features of the G1 so you can decide whether it's worth swooping in on today when T-Mobile officially launches it.

1. Custom user interface
The G1 boasts a custom user interface that allows you to change the appearance of your phone's display.

2. Third Party Applications
Many of the same features that are on the iPhone can be found on the G1, but without Steve Jobs' punishingly restrictive oversight.

This applies particularly to third party applications which Apple arbitrarily approves or denies, and reserves the right to kill at any time after release. Google has said they will keep the applications open for anyone to publish, though this still remains to be seen and reports are already coming out that Google has a kill switch of their own should applications fall out of favor for any reason.

3. Turn by turn GPS navigation using Google Maps
With the built in compass, and 3G network access, the G1 is set to offer turn by turn GPS navigation using the Google Maps Street view.

4. Dull exterior design
No matter how much we try to put looks aside and dive into the phone's features, it just keeps creeping back up. The phone is bland with it's lack of polish and charcoal grey body.

5. T-Mobile service
While the G1 utilizes T-Mobile's G3 network the availability of said network has much more limited coverage than most competitors.

A quick comparison of features
The G1 includes several unique features that are an upgrade from the iPhone, but also plenty of downgrades. The iPhone is lighter and comes with standard 8GB and 16GB models (G1 starts at 2Gb and can be expanded to 8GB). But the G1 comes equipped with a QWERTY keypad for easier text messaging, removable battery, and a 3MP camera (compared to Apple's 2MP).

You can read more about the G1 and Android here.