One of the biggest features of the Motorola Droid ( running Android 2.0 ), was the Google Maps Navigation app which offered turn-by-turn navigation features for free similar to what is offered by many other paid applications such as those from TomTom. The app comes with everything you would expect to find in a traditional GPS navigation system and has 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance for use while driving and automatic rerouting in case you miss a turn.

Now the same app has been made available to the users with phones running on the Android 1.6 software, such as the T-Mobile G1, myTouch 3G, Motorola CLIQ etc. Those who are using the HTC Hero or Eris will have to wait out for HTC and your respective carriers to put out an Android 1.6 update before you get to use Google Maps Navigation.

The first mobile phone to use Google’s Android open-source software is going to be available on T-Mobile starting with October 22nd in the US and is dubbed G1. Next, the Brits will get it in November, while those in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands will most likely get it in the first quarter of 2009.

The full specs lists for the G1 includes:

• HSDPA 1700 / 2100 plus quadband EDGE
• WiFi
• 3D graphics acceleration
• 3-megapixel camera
• 256 MB integrated storage, 1GB microSD card included
• Android Market for on-device app purchases
• Amazon MP3 app for on-device music purchases
• Push Gmail support with full HTML client
• Bluetooth (but no A2DP)
• Google Maps with Street View
• No Microsoft Exchange support
• No desktop synchronization — it all happens over the air
• 350 minutes talk time over 3G, 406 minutes over GSM
• 402 hours standby over 3G, 319 hours over GSM

It’s powerful indeed, but let’s get a little bit into details over here. Apparently there were things the market haven’t anticipated and the G1 managed to surprise us.

1. The first one is the $179 price (we all expected it to cost $199) for a T-Mobile 3 years subscription plan and $399 without a contract.
2. Second of all I really expected to feature Google’s Chrome browser. At least it sounded like a good idea after the big announcement a couple of weeks ago. They like to call it “Chrome Mini” even though there aren’t any big resemblances to the web browser.
3. Last thing. It doesn’t include free email access (that would’ve been really nice) and the fact that a user will only be able to use the device to play DRM-free music and videos. That’s probably where the companies will make the bucks, knowing that they have a partnership with Amazon for music sales.

Will mobile phones manufacturers lean to Google right now seeing the first Android phone? Probably, because T-Mobile G1 is really impressive. Check out the image gallery below:

All images thanks to Engadget