“Google on Tuesday began handing out mobile smartphones rather than cash as a year-end present to its staff, in a move that reflects an effort by the company to pare the cost of its famously lavish employee perks. The internet search group is to give most of its 20,100 employees around the world the G1, the first handset to be powered by Google’s new mobile operating system, known as ‘Android’.” [Link]

“US telecom carrier T-Mobile is slated to unveil on September 23 a ‘Google phone’ built by Taiwanese firm HTC and to have the device for sale in stores as early as October. Google is hoping Android will become the dominant operating system for mobile phones. It is designed to improve the speed and quality of using the Internet on handsets.” [Link]