Unlocked Google G1 phones denied access to paid applications

Unlocked Google G1 phones denied access to paid applications

Google has blocked the owners of unlocked G1 mobile phone to get access to the paid applications that are now available on the Android Market.

The company sells a Developer version of the G1 which is not locked to any carrier for $400. These are available to Android developer program members who pay USD 25 fee for the membership.

Google spoke about this limitation in a reply to a question posted by a user: “If you’re using an unlocked, developer phone, you’ll be unable to view any copy-protected application. This is a change that was made recently.”

The company has not clarified why they put on this limitation on the owners of unlocked G1 mobile devices.

They did however say: “The Developer version of the G1 is designed to give developers complete flexibility. These phones give developers of handset software full permissions to all aspects of the device… We aren’t distributing copy protected applications to these phones in order to minimize unauthorized copy of the applications.”