Wow. T-Mobile said that it had tripled its initial supply of Android phones, but it hadn't provided an actual number. Now we know: 1.5 million people have pre-ordered the G1, set to go on sale Oct. 22.That's an insane amount of interest for such a device. Sure, Apple says that it sold 1 million 3G iPhones the first weekend the device was available, and that's nice. But here comes T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest wireless network operator, coming up with 1.5 million pre-orders on a brand new mobile platform.

HTC must be beside itself with excitement. The Taiwanese firm that is manufacturing the G1 has had plenty of success with its Touch line of Windows Mobile smartphones, but this is extraordinary. HTC was projecting that it would sell several hundred thousand G1s by the end of 2008. To learn that 1.5 million people have pre-ordered it is incredible.

That means on or about Oct. 22, 1.5 million people will get the G1. That doesn't include the thousands who are probably interested in the device, but haven't pre-ordered one. With just over two months of availability right smack in the middle of the holiday season, Google, T-Mobile, and HTC just might have a blockbuster on their hands.

Since I had a chance to play with the G1 at the launch event last month, I am really surprised by this number. I thought enough media outlets gave the G1 an "exciting, but flawed" initial review, which should have curbed demand a bit. Despite the well-published flaws, omissions, and misfires, the G1 has people excited.

Let's hope it can live up to all that excitement.