Android, Phone Home

Linux on your end table: The New York Times reports that T-Mobile plans to roll out Android-based home phones next year, as well as other devices, including a tablet computer. Read the full story here.

An excerpt:

T-Mobile plans to sell a home phone early next year and soon after a tablet computer, both running Android, according to confidential documents obtained from one of the company’s partners. The phone will plug into a docking station and come with another device that handles data synchronization as it recharges the phone’s battery.

A T-Mobile spokesman, Peter Dobrow, declined to discuss the specifics of any future products but confirmed that T-Mobile had plans for several devices based on Android.

(snip)

Google maintains some control over Android, even though the software is open source, meaning other companies can alter it to suit their needs. But so far, only the T-Mobile phone, made by the Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, uses the software.

Full disclosure: I have been a satisfied T-Mobile customer since it was Voicestream. I have no plans to replace my wired home phone with either VoIP or a home cell phone. The wired phone exists for one reason only: backup for possible-I-hope-I-never-need-one 911 calls.

Plus, the telemarketers call that number, so I don’t have to answer it.