HTC Dream — the first Google Phone? — gets OK'd by FCC

Also known as the G1 and widely expected to be first Android-powered phone, the HTC Dream just won the FCC's nod of approval, and it appears primed and ready to work on T-Mobile's 3G network.

Engadget Mobile got its hands on the FCC documentation for the touchscreen Dream (or the G1, depending on who you talk to), which reveals a few schematics and additional details, including word that the phone will boast Wi-Fi connectivity, a "jogball" (which looks similar to the trackball on the latest BlackBerry and Sidekick handsets), and support for T-Mobile's 1700-band WCDMA/3G network.

The FCC documents don't mention anything about Android, Google's much-anticipated mobile platform, but the prevailing wisdom is that the Dream will, indeed, be the first Android-powered phone in the U.S., and could be available for pre-orders as early as next month.

T-Mobile rumor blog TmoNews goes even further, posting over the weekend that a pre-sale date of September 17 for the Dream/G1 is "set in stone," and that the devices will actually ship on October 13.

Besides running Google's Android OS, the Dream is rumored to come with a three-megapixel camera, a full HTML Web browser, access to all the standard Google servies (such as Gmail, Search, Maps, Gtalk, and the like), and a music player. Purported videos of the Dream (check 'em out here; note that the picture above is a snapshot from one of the videos) also reveal a slide-out QWERTY keypad.

Again, there's still no official word from T-Mobile or Google, but a nod from the FCC usually points toward an imminent release; stay tuned.

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HTC Dream FCC approved, Android clear for launch? [Engadget Mobile]