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September 24, 2008

What do you think of the T-Mobile G1 brand naming?

t-mobile g1.pngThe new Google phone is out and it has been named the "G1."  Well, let me be more precise. 

This is a Google-powered phone sold by T-Mobile USA that uses the vaunted Android operating system. It's official name is actually the "T-Mobile G1" leading one blogger to ask "G1, Gphone, Tphone - what will you call your Google phone?"

To confuse matters even further, HTC, the Taiwan based manufacturer of the phone, code-named it the Dream. I've rarely seen a technology device referred to by so many names.

PowerMacG5.pngWhen I first saw the term G1, I immediately thought that this must be for an old product. Why?

I was immediately reminded of:

  • Apple's G-Series of Towers which ended in the discontinued G5

  • Then there is the Pontiac G5 and G6

  • Oh, did I mention that ASUS has a G1 and G2 laptop

    • georgeforemang5.png
  • Finally, maybe this is a little bit of a stretch, but I was also reminded of the George Foreman G5 grill
Most likely G1 refers to Google's first generation Android smart-phone software, since the tagline is "G1 with Google."

While I agree with New Gadgets and Gizmos that the T-Mobile G1 Phone is not an iPhone killer, I strongly disagree with the assertion that iPhone will become a genericized brand, like Kleenex, Xerox and Band-Aids.

Just as Apple tightly controls third party developer software for the iPhone, it has a track record of vigorously defending its brand trademarks.

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Posted by William Lozito at September 24, 2008 8:06 AM
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