Again, the about-to-be-released T-Mobile G1 isn’t a Windows Mobile phone; rather, it uses Google’s Android software. But in this week's column I want to point you to some of the initial reviews, since it’s an exciting device and another strong indicator of things to come. Bottom line: powerful device, Android software is impressive, but needs fine tuning.

The G1 is slated to be released October 22 at a price of $180 with a two-year contract. As we’ve noted before, it uses Google’s Android software, which is being made freely available to manufacturers and carriers. Google is trying hard to create an open standard and get its hands into the cell phone universe. Their aim, of course, is to put their ads on your device. The T-Mobile G1 will only sync with Google’s online mail, contacts, and calendar applications.

David Pogue, in his review for the New York Times, grades the T-Mobile G1 thus: software, A-, Phone, B-, Network, C. His video comparing the G1 and iPhone software and interface side by side is very instructive — and shows the elegance of the Android software. No surprise that it gets an A.

The phone itself, though, doesn’t please him quite as much. That seems partly because he’s not attracted to the added bulk resulting from the slideout QWERTY keyboard and doesn’t like the inconvenience of always having to turn the phone sideways to enter text. But there are some other dislikes: the lack of a headphone jack (you need to buy an adapter to use with the USB port), a mediocre camera, and buttons that make it more complicated than his beloved iPhone.

And the network? T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network still only covers 19 cities. Interestingly, Pogue says that after 90 days, you can request a T-Mobile unlock code that lets you use it on any GSM network, such as AT&T’s.

Matthew Miller at ZDNet must win the award for most humongous review, which includes five videos and over 260 images. His bottom line: after using a loaner for a week to write his review, he ended up preordering a new G1.

He likes having both a touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard. Further, he feels that the G1 compares favorably with the original iPhone because it has “wireless syncing capability, cut/copy/paste, games, a wireless music store, application store and 3rd party application support, integrated GPS, multiple client IM clients, and multi-tasking capability.”

Also, our own blogger Nate Adcock has written an excellent review of the G1, and compares it with Windows Mobile devices. His conclusion seems to be a good summary of the reviews I’ve seen: it’s a powerful device, and the Android software has a lot to be said for it. BUT the device needs some fine tuning.