T-Mobile has come forward and announced it will introduce the first Google Android-powered smart phone during a September 23 press conference in New York City.  The HTC Dream Smartphone, or G1, is the first phone to use Google's Android OS, and is expected to launch at the end of October.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the HTC Dream last month and T-Mobile could ship up to 700,000 Smartphones total, which is higher than early estimates of 300,000 to 500,000.  Google hopes the software will make it even easier for users to browse the Internet using their mobile handsets.  The Mountain View, CA-based company hopes to be able to sell more advertising while helping consumers find a new way to access the Google search engine.

HTC will compete with the Apple iPhone and Research in Motion's BlackBerry Smartphones, which are two Smartphones that help generate traffic for the mobile Google site.

Company executives from both T-Mobile and Google will be on hand during the press event on September 23, where the media will be able to get our hands on the phone.  Pricing and specific information about the phone remain unknown, but will likely be unveiled during the event next week.

Unconfirmed rumors indicate the HTC Dream, which is almost the same length as the iPhone 3G, will be available for as low as $149 with a two-year contract.  The phone is slightly thinner than the iPhone 3G, and with T-Mobile ready to roll out 3G in more than 20 major U.S. markets, the timing of the first Android device is ideal for T-Mobile.

Analysts expect the T-Mobile phone to be the only Android-based phone to be released in 2008, although several manufacturers reportedly have plans to launch Android devices next year.  Even though most consumers choose a phone more because of the phone's features and performance, not the operating system, Google will be able to draw in new users because of the company's strong publicity.