The T-Mobile G2 (known in Europe as the HTC Magic) is a second generation Android-based phone equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera and made with a slimmer physical form than its predecessor, the T-Mobile G1. It is also known as the Google Ion, and will be released in the U.S. as the T-Mobile myTouch 3G (when a phone is this good, it needs at least 4 names).

Instead of using a slide-out keyboard like the older model, the G2 has a virtual keypad more like that of the iPhone. The keyboard is featured in the long-in-development Cupcake update to the Android software. Early reports are that the touchscreen keyboard is not as efficient as the physical one on the G1 (in part due to the screen's relatively small size at 3.2 inches), but you might put up with it just to enjoy the phone's other design features; it's arguably far more attractive to look at than it's predecessor. As with the G1, a trackball compliments the touchscreen for navigation.

According to Gizmodo, the G2 has an interface similar to the original G1. Many of the G1's Google applications have been carried over, including Google Talk, Gmail, YouTube, and the Android Market.

So far, the G2 is confirmed to launch in Europe in April on May 1 under the "HTC Magic" monniker, with Spain, the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy to start and other countries to follow. Spanish pricing is confirmed to be between €99 and €199, or $125 - $150. An exclusive to Vodafone in the UK, the price is an attractive "free" with a monthly plan of £30 or more.

On March 27th, 2009 a T-Mobile-branded version of the HTC Magic appeared in an FCC filing, confirming that the phone is coming to the United States via that carrier. No specifics about pricing or a release date for the U.S. have been announced just yet, but a recent T-Mobile product inventory sheet indicates it may be sold under the name MyTouch 3G in the States, and may be offered in a "merlot" color in addition to black.

[Update 5/7/09]: The G2 will be launching in Canada as the HTC Magic, exclusively on Rogers Wireless on June 2, 2009.

[Update 6/22/09]: The G2 will be launching in the U.S. as the T-Mobile myTouch 3G for $199 on contract in early August, 2009. Pre-orders for the device will begin July 8 and run through July 28, with T-Mobile promising delivery by August 5.

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[Image courtesy of Engadget. T-Mobile image courtesy CellPhoneSignal.]