T-Mobile's MyTouch 3G takes Google phone to the next level

— -- Style counts almost as much as substance when it comes to smartphones. But somebody forgot to remind T-Mobile before last fall's launch of the G1.

This first "Google phone" — it runs Google's Android mobile operating system — was a capable handset with a hidden, slide-out keyboard that complemented a touch display. It was also chunky and homely.

On Aug. 5, T-Mobile follows up the G1 with the far-more-attractive MyTouch 3G. The keyboard was sacrificed for a much slimmer design, so it's a no-go for folks who prefer physical keys. But T-Mobile addresses other shortcomings, starting with handling work e-mail through Microsoft Exchange. (It still doesn't work with an Exchange calendar, contacts or task list.) Bluetooth stereo is also now supported.

Google says at least 18 Android phones will appear globally by year's end.

This time around, T-Mobile and handset maker HTC of Taiwan are paying close attention to the aesthetics, down to the slick packaging and the hard case with a zipper it comes in. The phone is available in white, black or merlot. You can personalize it with wallpapers, widgets and, for $20, outer shells. It feels comfy in your hand and up to your ear.

MyTouch costs $200 with a two-year contract, $50 more than the G1, which remains in the lineup and mostly runs the same software. Monthly voice and data plans start at a very reasonable $55.

I generally like the MyTouch, despite drawbacks. T-Mobile's fast 3G network is in fewer places than rivals. The 3.2-inch touch-screen display, while nice, doesn't let you perform such stunts as pinching or spreading your fingers to zoom in and out of a Web page or photo, as on an iPhone or Palm Pre. MyTouch has an expandable memory slot, which those other phones don't have. But the 4-gigabyte memory card it comes with pales next to the 8 GB of internal memory on the Pre or 16 GB on the lowest-capacity iPhone 3G S.

And here's a head-scratcher. Though the phone comes with standard 3.5 mm ear buds, there's no 3.5 mm jack. Instead, you have to use a supplied adapter to connect the ear buds (or any standard headphones) through USB. The adapter (which has a microphone) is one more thing you have to carry and keep track of. You can buy music through an Amazon MP3 store application. A closer look: