The first gadget to use Google’s open-source Android operating system is scheduled to become available to United States customers on October 22, one month after it was officially introduced by the company.

The Dream, as the device is called, has been manufactured by High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), the company, member of the Open Handset Alliance, expecting the sales to range from 600,000 to 700,000 units this year, although analysts have estimated that a maximum number of 500,000 items would be sold.

As for the smartphone’s carrier, it has been previously announced that T-Mobile would be the one providing the network to G1’s users.The Bonn-headquartered mobile network operator is the world's sixth largest mobile phone service provider by subscribers, with 101 million of them. The G1 will be priced at $180 with a two-year contract with T-Mobile.

One of the gadget’s major features is the online Android Market, which is Apple Incorporated’s iPhone App Store’s opposite number, allowing users to download-free of charge-various applications.

Nevertheless, unlike the competition, the search giant has announced that they totally encouraged third-party developers to create programs to run on the Dream, meaning that the company would not interfere with users’ apps choices. Consequently, no software submissions are to be rejected by Google, which Apple has been known to do with regards to apps that do not comply with their interests.

The Android Market will feature, among others, applications such as BreadCrumbz and TuneWiki, Google Maps, Google Maps Street View and YouTube videos.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the device’s software, G1 has a number of rather disturbing shortcomings: it does not offer Flash videos, users cannot move from one message to the next one without passing through the Inbox and it doesn’t feature Visual Voicemail.

Furthermore, even though T-Mobile has clinched a deal with Amazon’s music store, tracks can be downloaded only when the user is in a Wi-Fi hot spot and, what is probably most disappointing, Google has recently confirmed that the new phone has a remote kill switch for disabling applications, in order to protect consumers against malicious applications or privacy violations. So much for utter control over the apps, under these conditions.

The Android has Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and a removable battery, but unfortunately, no headphone jack, customers having to purchase and carry with them a special adapter in order to use headphones.

T-Mobile will charge users a monthly $55 for unlimited Internet use and 300 minutes of calling. In addition, the company has informed that 90 days after signing the contract, subscribers could request an unlock code that would enable them to use the smartphone on any GSM network.

HTC is scheduled to launch the Dream in the United Kingdom in November, while the phone is set to hit the markets in non-English speaking countries during next year’s first quarter.