So I’m standing filming, right?
I’m watching the organised melee and I’m seeing folk walking out the door with their new G1s — all setup and ready to rock (the device has a full charge when you take it out the box. Smart.
There was a small lull in store traffic just about 9am — I spotted a spare sales guy. Since I’d arrived, they were all working over time servicing customers as fast as possible. I’ve obviously been thinking about getting a G1 for a little while — but with my history with T-Mobile (goodness knows how many billing issues and the like) I thought it might be a bit of a challenge. And since I’d been invited down by T-Mobile to this launch, I thought it was a little bit rude to skip to the front of the queue ahead of proper paying customers. (I’d like to point out that I pay full price too.)
So with the lull in the queue, I checked with James from T-Mobile PR and jumped in front of a chap.
“I’d like a G1, please!” I said.
“Right and what tariff were you thinking of, sir?” the chap asked.
Er.
I dunno. Anyone.
“Er, the … the whatever. The 40 quid one,” I said.
“Right and…” the chap began, “Now what do you use your phone for, sir?”
This is good. He was checking that I was buying a product appropriate to my needs. I explained that I was a mobile nut. He nodded and skipped the standard sales approach. I do approve of this kind of assisted-selling. But me? No. Just the facts ma’am. Just the G1.
The chap who served me was called Masamba — and he was excellent. Having been up since 4am he was full of energy. He produced a white G1 for me in record time and bish bash bosh, we went through the contract process and I was done. In about 3 or 4 minutes he handed me my white ‘T-Mobile G1 is here’ branded bag and that was me. Done!
The other store chaps were busy serving customers as I snapped away:
I think there was a degree of hopefulness from the T-Mobile team. I reckon they got up this morning hoping that things would go well. Hoping that the G1 would get a good reception. But by 830am, there was a quiet sense of achievement and delight from them as they continued to sell G1 after G1. I stopped this chap and took a photo as he was retrieving yet another G1 from the back:
Brisk business:
Every till was buzzing whilst I was there:
I’m just pleased I managed to get in and get one myself.
Next post: starting up the G1. It is pure genius.
Bring it on Friday. I'll bring my N96….
I caved and bought one too… They pushed the insurance a bit too hard (can't be bought without it – yeah right), but I got one without in the end.
Oh I got the insurance….
I've just picked one up. I didn't buy an iPhone, so I can't comment on O2's systems – but fair play to T-Mobile they seemed organised and it sorted very quickly.
They pushed the insurance pretty hard on me, but I'm obviously a stronger man than you MacLeod! I said no.
Just about to turn it on and play with it. Getting excited …
Let me correct my earlier comment about T-Mobile being really good – they gave me the G1 fine, but forgot the sim! I'll have to go back in the morning to see how this plays out …
So, I turned up at 10am on the dot to sort out the missing sim card. And, opening the shop 6 minutes late, they were great and sorted me out no problem. I was in and out within 10 minutes and now my G1 is working. So well done T-Mobile.
so i just unlocked mine with the amazing SimAble….
http://helloG1.tumblr.com/post/57274126/unlocki…
there is also a software unlock available 🙂
So… who wants to swap an iPhone 3G for a G1?
i wouldnt throw that iPhone away just yet 😉
its not as seemless an end to end experience as the iPhone – but it is a more promising one.
getting music/video on for instance is a bit of a hack. and until core player gets released
theres no decent option for video viewing.
they are very different devices. Both suffer with battery/camera.
theres a lot of bads in the hardware of the G1
and a lot of good in the software – which will only get better.
its the first phone since the original iPhone that has a really FAST interface.
puts nokias /symbians efforts to shame. but its not perfect by a country mile (whatever one of those is) but as a first effort its stunning.
iPhone had a years worth of jailbreakers dev'ing on the side before app store came out. hense the android market being a bit sparse at the moment.
so i just unlocked mine with the amazing SimAble….
http://helloG1.tumblr.com/post/57274126/unlocki…
there is also a software unlock available 🙂
So… who wants to swap an iPhone 3G for a G1?
i wouldnt throw that iPhone away just yet 😉
its not as seemless an end to end experience as the iPhone – but it is a more promising one.
getting music/video on for instance is a bit of a hack. and until core player gets released
theres no decent option for video viewing.
they are very different devices. Both suffer with battery/camera.
theres a lot of bads in the hardware of the G1
and a lot of good in the software – which will only get better.
its the first phone since the original iPhone that has a really FAST interface.
puts nokias /symbians efforts to shame. but its not perfect by a country mile (whatever one of those is) but as a first effort its stunning.
iPhone had a years worth of jailbreakers dev'ing on the side before app store came out. hense the android market being a bit sparse at the moment.
So, I turned up at 10am on the dot to sort out the missing sim card. And, opening the shop 6 minutes late, they were great and sorted me out no problem. I was in and out within 10 minutes and now my G1 is working. So well done T-Mobile.
so i just unlocked mine with the amazing SimAble….
http://helloG1.tumblr.com/post/57274126/unlocki…
there is also a software unlock available 🙂
So… who wants to swap an iPhone 3G for a G1?
i wouldnt throw that iPhone away just yet 😉
its not as seemless an end to end experience as the iPhone – but it is a more promising one.
getting music/video on for instance is a bit of a hack. and until core player gets released
theres no decent option for video viewing.
they are very different devices. Both suffer with battery/camera.
theres a lot of bads in the hardware of the G1
and a lot of good in the software – which will only get better.
its the first phone since the original iPhone that has a really FAST interface.
puts nokias /symbians efforts to shame. but its not perfect by a country mile (whatever one of those is) but as a first effort its stunning.
iPhone had a years worth of jailbreakers dev'ing on the side before app store came out. hense the android market being a bit sparse at the moment.