Draft:Google Sooner

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Draft:Google Sooner
  • Comment: OP/IP will still need to fix the use of WP:LLM, including fixing the referencing as mentioned in the comments. CNMall41 (talk) 02:10, 16 July 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: Moved given the LLM concerns and the links (none of which lead to the intended sources), however by searching the actual source titles I have been able to locate a couple of them, as well as another [1] which I used to verify the basic specs, which appear to match. Moved to draft to enable further review and allow the refs to be fixed before publishing. ASUKITE 00:36, 26 April 2026 (UTC)
Google Sooner
The Google Sooner prototype
ManufacturerHTC
TypeSmartphone
Series
Android prototypes
SuccessorHTC Dream
Early Android (Pre-alpha)
CPUTI OMAP850 (200 MHz)
Memory64 MB RAM
Storage64 MB
SIMMini SIM
Battery960 mAh
Display2.43-inch, 320x240 px, TFT LCD, non-touch
Connectivity2G (GPRS/EDGE), Bluetooth 2.0, Mini-USB

The Google Sooner (also known by its HTC model number EXCA300) was the first physical prototype device designed to run the Android operating system.[1] Developed by Google in partnership with HTC in 2006, the device was never released commercially. It is widely cited by tech historians as the primary evidence of Google's original vision for Android: a device centered around a physical QWERTY keyboard and non-touch navigation, similar to BlackBerry and Palm Treo devices of the era.[2]

History

Development

Development of the Sooner began shortly after Google acquired Android in 2005. At the time, the mobile industry was dominated by "feature phones" and QWERTY-focused smartphones.

Following the announcement of the iPhone in January 2007, Google engineers realized that the Sooner's non-touch interface would be obsolete by the time it reached the market.[3] Project lead Andy Rubin pivoted the team's focus to a touchscreen-capable device, codenamed "Dream," which eventually became the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) in 2008.

Technical specifications

The Sooner's hardware was based on the HTC Excalibur (marketed as the T-Mobile Dash).

  • Processor: Texas Instruments OMAP 850 clocked at 200 MHz.
  • Display: A landscape-oriented 2.43-inch, 320x240 pixel LCD. Notably, this screen was not touch-sensitive.[4]
  • Connectivity: The device lacked Wi-Fi and 3G support, relying entirely on 2G (GPRS/EDGE) cellular data.[5]
  • Input: A full physical QWERTY keyboard with a four-way directional pad and dedicated "Home," "Back," "Menu," and "Call/End" buttons.

Software

The Sooner ran a pre-alpha version of Android that featured a home screen with a Google search bar and various widgets. Because the device lacked a touchscreen, the interface was navigated entirely using the directional pad. Early builds included versions of Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube.

See also

  • HTC Dream – The first commercial Android phone and successor to the Sooner.
  • History of Android – A timeline of the operating system's development.

References

  1. ^ Troughton-Smith, Steven. "The Android Sooner: the ill-fated prototype killed by the iPhone". OSnews. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  2. ^ Ziegler, Chris (December 18, 2011). "The day Google had to start over on Android". The Verge. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  3. ^ Vogelstein, Fred (December 18, 2013). "The Day Google Had to 'Start Over' on Android". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  4. ^ "Android turns 10, but here's a look at the Google device that came 'Sooner'". 9to5Google. September 25, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  5. ^ "7 Android facts that you may not have known". Android Authority. August 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
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