T-Mobile and Google have collaborated to reveal the latest phone to hit the market – the T-Mobile G1.

T-Mobile and Google have collaborated to reveal the latest phone to hit the market – the T-Mobile G1 – the first of its kind to run on the open-source software platform Android.

The new model has full touch-screen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard, a three mega-pixel camera and allows access to the Android Market, where users can choose from a variety of applications in order to tailor their phone to suit their lifestyle.

Being open-source, Android applications can be created by developers around the world, however, a selection of unique Android applications will be available for download when the phone launches in November.

The phone is optimised for accessing the internet through WiFi and 3G, with fast access buttons to tools such as Google Maps, Google Talk and Gmail.  Alongside the touch-screen, the T-Mobile G1 also comes equipped with a convenient trackball for more precise, one-handed navigation.

It will be available for free on T-Mobile tariffs of over £40 a month and includes unlimited net browsing.

Jim Hyde, Chief Executive of T-Mobile UK, said: “The T-Mobile G1 is the first device to run on the Android platform, giving customers unprecedented ability to make their mobile work just the way they want. The T-Mobile G1 is a unique mobile, designed with the new possibilities of online communication in mind.”

Google hopes the free Linux-based Android software powering the G1 will eventually become the dominant operating system for mobile phones.

“It’s very exciting for me as a computer geek to have a phone that I can play with and modify,” said Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who made a surprise appearance at the launch event with fellow co-founder Larry Page.

T-Mobile customers can ensure they are kept up to date with the T-Mobile G1 by registering their details at www.t-mobile.co.uk/tmobileg1