T-Mobile, Google and HTC, in a joint collaboration, unveiled the world’s first Android-powered cell phone today in New York City, and OTR attended the media blowout event to get hands-on with the groundbreaking new device and bring all you tech-loving college students out there our impressions.

Originally codenamed the “Dream,” the G1 offers a highly responsive touch-screen display, like the iPhone, and a fully featured QWERTY keyboard, for the Sidekick and Blackberry aficionados out there that prefer the tactile feeling of a physical keyboard over the detached nature of an on-screen one. While the added keyboard is a welcomed feature, it does make the G1 much, much thicker than its competitor, which could potentially turn off those that prefer the slick, slim Apple physique.

Thankfully, to counterbalance the added girth, HTC, the designers of the G1, reduced the phone’s width, which allows it to sit comfortably in one’s hand with little effort, and lightened its overall weight.

In my hand, the G1 felt lighter than an iPhone by a significant amount – but, it also felt flimsier, hollower and – for the lack of a better word – cheaper. While T-Mobile only had the black and white versions of the phone on display, each appeared to be made of different materials. The black was, by and large, the inferior of the two handsets, as it sported solid, cheap black plastic. The white one, however, had a glossy white faceplate, which felt akin to the material one would find on the iPhone or a Nintendo Wii remote.

On a software level, the G1 shares many of the same features as the iPhone. There’s an application store, Google Maps, a music store (powered by Amazon), YouTube application and music/video player, etc. – but not all of them function in the same fashion as their Apple counterparts. For example, unlike Apple’s, the G1’s application store won’t require third-party applications to undergo extensive certification. Instead, Google will only take time to verify that the software isn’t malicious in nature before putting it out for mass consumption.

Neat – but expect tons of shovelware to hit the store, as a result.

Overall, the G1 is a worthy iPhone competitor – but not an iPhone killer. Still, it’s a strong step in the right direction for both Google and T-Mobile, and thanks to the open platform nature of Android, it will be a strong step for the industry as a whole.

Availability: October 22nd, but current T-Mobile customers can preorder theirs now at www.t-mobileg1.com
Price: $179.99 with a two-year contract