The G2: T-Mobile Announces myTouch 3G

It's official. The new Android phone from T-Mobile is the myTouch 3G. This phone does not have a slide-out keyboard like the G1. Instead, it relies on the touch screen and Android track ball. This means the phone is smaller and thinner than the G1.

Like the G1, the myTouch has a 3.2 megapixel, video-capable camera and can use 3G networks or WiFi for data. It comes with a 4 gig microSD memory card pre-installed. The available colors are listed as white, black, and "merlot."

T-Mobile is marketing this phone as a highly personalized experience. In addition to the standard Android applications and access to the Android Market, the myTouch comes with Sherpa. Sherpa is listed as a "learning engine" that customizes itself to your preferences. "Through behavior and user feedback, the application learns a person’s likes and dislikes, prioritizing recommended retailers, restaurants and attractions." (Sherpa image courtesy T-Mobile)

The new phone will be available for pre-order for existing T-Mobile customers starting around July 8 for $199. That's the subsidized price. I'm waiting to hear back from T-Mobile on whether or not existing G1 customers are eligible for the subsidized price. If we went by existing rules, most G1 users would not be eligible for an upgrade. However, the iPhone may have changed the game in terms of consumer expectations.