Android users nowadays probably never questioned how Google’s operating system came to be, it just existed. But for hardcore Android fanboys and fangirls, the history that dates back more than a decade ago is definitely one to be remembered.

It is also public knowledge that the HTC G1/Dream wasn’t the first ever Android phone to be developed. There was in fact, another smartphone that used Android during the platform’s development stage and it was codenamed “Sooner“.

Unfortunately for Sooner, Google chose HTC Dream’s design over it. Thus, the HTC Dream later became the first shipped consumer Android product. Technically speaking, Sooner preceded it.

Unreleased-Blackberry-Android-prototype

Interestingly, if you want to get the first unreleased Android prototype, a small number of it was available on eBay for USD195 each.

Given that this is an old device, the specs are clearly no match when compared to today’s Android smartphones.

Google Sooner is powered by a TI OMAP 850 SoC, coupled with 64MB of RAM. The display, on the other hand, has a 320 x 240 pixel resolution while the rear camera is 1.3-megapixels. Other features include a 960mAh battery and 2G connectivity.

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Sooner doesn’t have a touchscreen yet and not even WiFi support. It looks more like a classic Blackberry than a modern smartphone, except that it runs an early Android system.

According to the listing on eBay, the models sold are brand new but old stock sitting around for more than 10 years. It is highly probable that the battery no longer works and the network support is crappy, if not functional. The phone box comes with the unit itself, a battery, AC Adapter, and an earpiece.

Unfortunately, as of this writing — all stocks are gone. So, whoever gets a piece of it, it’s a valid question to ask whether the device actually works or not.

Via: Android Police

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