T-Mobile myTouch 3G on sale today: $199.99

T-Mobile USA's latest Android smartphone, the myTouch 3G, goes on sale today, and to celebrate (and, dare we say, distract attention from the HTC Hero) the carrier is planning an aerial show above San Francisco.  100 skydivers will plummit, sky-writing as they go, to announce the fact that the myTouch 3G costs $199.99 with a new two-year agreement.

Unlike the HTC Magic version of the smartphone, the myTouch 3G will be available in three colors: black, white and merlot (red).  Each will come preloaded with Android OS 1.5 Cupcake, and have 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a 3.2-inch touchscreen and 3.2-megapixel camera.

If the thought of falling salespeople isn't enough to lure you out of the house – or if you're not in San Francisco – then you can also pick up the new smartphone online.  Head over to www.t-mobilemytouch3g.com for all the details.

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Press Release:

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Available in Stores Nationwide Beginning Today

The Power of Personalization Makes the Newest Android™ -Powered Device "100% You™";

An Exciting San Francisco Spectacle Marks the Occasion

BELLEVUE, Wash., and SAN FRANCISCO —Aug. 5, 2009 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the national retail availability of the highly anticipated T-Mobile® myTouch™ 3G with Google™. Customers can now purchase the myTouch 3G in T-Mobile retail and partner locations, as well as online at http://www.t-mobilemytouch.com, and also choose from an array of accessories and customized shells to make their device truly their own.

To celebrate its arrival, T-Mobile is aiming high and plans to launch an aerial spectacle in the sky over San Francisco. Today at noon PDT, 100 skydivers, each dressed as unique personalities to reflect the individuality of the myTouch experience, will colorfully parachute in synchronized formations over the city*.

"myTouch 3G can be personalized to wholly reflect your individuality, pride and passion, making it '100% you,'" said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. "We'll help this come to life from the get-go at our retail stores, where unique sample personas will be displayed to illustrate some of the many customization options. Also, our skilled myTouch 3G Retail Champions will learn about our customers' interests and needs to make sure they're suited to make their myTouch unlike any other."

The Retail Champions, deeply trained specifically to help customers maximize their myTouch 3G experience, will assist with downloads, demonstrate the multitude of features and applications available for customers, and showcase personalization options.

myTouch 3G has much to boast about on the outside. To complement its sleek and lightweight look and feel, a variety of accessories and pre-designed shell patterns are available, including the ability to individualize accessories. Customers will also be able to design their own shell using a variety of methods, including uploading a personal photo, graphic design, or selecting text, shapes, icons or logos. The final design is custom-printed onto the shell, then shipped.

In addition, the ecosystem of accessories available for myTouch includes everything from gel skins to device cases to wrist straps to covers. Five distinct accessory bundles will be available this month online including a music pack with portable speakers and a bonus promotional card for Amazon MP3 downloads, and a fitness pack that includes a fitness belt and arm band — each allowing customers to further match the phone to their unique lifestyle.

On its inside, myTouch provides customers with the ability to richly personalize the entire theme of the device with new widgets, icons and wallpapers, which can be added directly on the home screen. Android Market™ hosts thousands of applications that can deliver further customization to customers based on their personal passions and preferences, supported by T-Mobile's expanding 3G network, which is currently available in 176 cities nationwide.

T-Mobile has also launched a new application within the Market called AppPack, which highlights a sampling of noteworthy applications to help customers further personalize their myTouch 3G and manage their T-Mobile accounts. At launch, AppPack includes the following applications that are free:

Sherpa™, created by Geodelic, Sherpa learns a person's likes and dislikes through behavior and user feedback, prioritizing recommended retailers, restaurants and attractions. Sherpa features a learning machine that automatically customizes itself to the user's preferences.

imeem Mobile streams music customized to your tastes, recommending new songs and artists based on which songs you identify as your favorites.

WorldTour puts live webcams from around the world onto your home screen.

Phonebook offers an upgraded, more personalized phonebook for Android.

FreshFace is a theme engine to further customize your myTouch.

Movies by Flixster takes the aspect of movie reviews to the next level. Through integration with Facebook, you can find friends who also want to see that movie or read reviews from friends who have already seen it.

Three T-Mobile applications will also be featured: T-Mobile My Account; T-Mobile Visual Voicemail; and T-Mobile Mobile Backup.

Additional popular phone features made possible by the partnership of T-Mobile and Google include one-touch access to the Google™ mobile services that millions use every day including Google Search™ by voice, Google Maps™ with Street View, YouTube™ and Picasa™.

During today's myTouch arrival celebration, skydivers accompanied by fly-by jets will land at four locations around San Francisco: Embarcadero/Justin Herman Plaza, Marina Green Park, Pier 39 and Moscone Recreation Center. Spectators at Justin Herman Plaza will have the opportunity to interact with the skydivers and product ambassadors, sample the new myTouch device as well as have the chance to get exciting gifts.

Pricing and Availability

Designed by HTC, T-Mobile myTouch 3G is available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores for $199.99 with a two-year agreement.** It is also available at http://www.T-MobilemyTouch.com. T-Mobile myTouch 3G will be available in three colors — black, white and merlot. Customers can visit http://www.T-MobilemyTouch.com for more information.