• Silicon Alley Insider/Financial Times, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:32 AM

Google, T-Mobile and HTC this morning will unveil the Dream, the first handset to run on Google's mobile operating system, Android. We know already know what the phone looks like, what it will cost ($200), as well as a few of its most basic features (touchscreen technology, big keyboard, 3G network compatibility, etc.). However, we're still hoping for a few surprises when the new phone is unveiled this morning.

Silicon Alley Insider has the following wishlist: "Push" Gmail, Google Calendars and GoogleTalk a la BlackBerry complete with built-in file syncing between PC/Mac, the cloud and the phone -- like a free, ad-supported version of Apple's MobileMe; seamless integration between Web browser and services like Google Docs and Google Maps; games from big publishers like Electronic Arts; video recording that uploads directly to YouTube; and a way to sync the Android phone with any Mac/PC as seamlessly as Apple's iTunes (via WiFi/3G or USB).

Meanwhile, the Financial Times has seen the Android-powered Dream and declares that, "those framing their expectations in terms of the hype and wizardry of Apple's iPhone will be disappointed," partly because Google's mobile ambitions are all about software rather than hardware. "Google has its work cut out for it in crashing the smartphone party," the FT article says, adding that given the sizable lead in market share for Nokia and Research in Motion, "Gphones must reach critical mass of at least 10m units by next year to stand a chance."

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