This weekend sparked (get it…like sparklers) rumors that Nokia, the world’s top cellphone maker, was abandoning Symbian for a new project. The phone, code named “Rachael,” was said to be designed to run Android. Unfortunately, Nokia denies that claim.

It really is a shame, considering Nokia is one on a very short list of manufacturers capable of competing directly with the iPhone. What they need, though, is a consumer-friendly operating system like, you guessed it, Android.

Speaking of the rumor, a Nokia spokesman said, “”Absolutely no truth to this whatsoever.” He followed up with, “Everyone knows that Symbian is our preferred platform for advanced mobile devices.” Doesn’t get much clearer than that.

Source: Reuters

Just a few days ago T-Mobile unveiled the Dash 3G and gave a hint they’d be making a much more interesting announcement, one concerning Android, within a week. Why wait a week when you could announce your new Android phone on…Sunday night?

The oft-rumored HTC myTouch 3G is now official, and coming to T-Mobile on July 29th. Customers can start ordering the new phone as early as July 8th. The phone will start at $199, the same price as the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

The new HTC phone is essentially an upgrade of the G1, though it doesn’t sport the physical keyboard of the G1, relying instead on the Android 1.5 virtual keypad. The phone also has a 3.2 megapixel camera and offers support for 3G networks as well as Wi-Fi.

T-Mobile is pitching the myTouch 3G against the iPhone by selling customization. According to Andrew Sherrard, VP of Product Innovation at T-Mobile, the iPhone has a “beautiful aesthetic, but you can’t change it.” With widgets, custom backgrounds, and the ability to learn user preferences, Sherrard believes the myTouch 3G is more than just a phone. “This is more than a product launch for us,” he said. “We want consumers to view this as an experience that we are creating for them.”

The smartphone market is all about creating a total user experience. iPhone users love the App Store. Palm Pre adopters are in love with the new operating system. Will customization be enough to take people over to T-Mobile?

Maybe not by itself, but it’s difficult to ignore Android, the operating system that sold 1 million HTC G1’s, the first Android phone from T-Mobile. The open source development base continues to grow, which means more features and more apps for an exploding customer base. Android is best positioned as an iPhone contender, and as more apps get developed, and more carriers consider Android devices, I think we’ll see Android continue to grow as the tech-savvy alternative to an iPhone.

If there’s one thing I think T-Mobile could have planned better, it’s timing. They’ve known about this release for a while, so why not tell people, particularly with the iPhone 3GS launch. Plenty of folks have been waiting for that next best thing, and June marks the end of the first iPhone contracts. Why not pick up the folks who were ready to drop AT&T? Why not fight the Palm Pre/3GS in the open field. As I see it, T-Mobile could have snagged more than a few techsumers who weren’t thrilled with the G1 but might give the myTouch 3G a shot. Both the Palm Pre and the 3GS may have had enough features to lure those people into new contracts, contracts they’re unlikely to break so soon.

Maybe you’re tired of all the Apple hype, or maybe your hands are too big for the Pre’s keyboard. Maybe you don’t like AT&T, or maybe you’re just looking for a Windows Mobile phone. Whatever your circumstances, if you’ve been waiting for a faster T-Mobile Dash, you just have to wait another month.

T-Mobile has finally unveiled their version of the HTC Snap, calling it the Dash 3G, set for July availability. As the name suggests, the new phone supports 3G speeds and adds GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support for a much quicker overall experience. T-Mobile has yet to announce pricing for the phone, though Sprint looks to sell the same phone as early as June 21st, with an asking price of $149.99 on contract. I’d expect T-Mobile to follow the same route.

During the same announcement, T-Mobile said we would hear more about their newest Android device next week. Talk about a buzz kill. Oh, you were excited for the dash? Oh really? Great, you could buy one of those if you want. You know we have a new Android phone coming out, right? Yeah, that really great open development platform? The way of the future? The way of the future? The way of the future?

Really, why is OCD so entertaining? Also, really, I’m excited for the new Android phone. Windows Mobile less so, but I know some of you are diehards and I mean no disrespect. Say hello to your mother for me.

Image: CNet