The Google Phone (The Nexus One) – What we Know so Far
The Google Phone (The Nexus One) – What we Know so Far
Posted 12/13/2009 at 10:19am
| by Justin Kerr
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With over 50 new Android phones poised to hit the market next year its hard to ignore the reality that the platform is picking up not just in popularity, but in variety as well. Some argue the open approach is Androids greatest strength, while iPhone loyalists would have you believe the lack of a singular vision is its biggest weakness. Either way, Google has been able to sit back and observe the changes in the market since the G1 first launched, and the company finally has an answer for even the purist among us, meet the Nexus One. Sporting a speedy Snapdragon processor running on Android 2.1, it also features a 5.0 MP camera, and two microphones to assist in noise cancellation. The hardware itself will be manufactured by HTC, but the phone was designed, and will be sold by Google itself as an unlocked carrier independent device.
The Nexus One represents a pretty significant game changer not just for the wireless industry, but for a multi billion-dollar company that has never sold a single piece of consumer hardware in its history. With so many high profile handsets on the market already Google will need to compete not just with iPhone’s, Blackberry’s, and other Androids, but with the media perception that they are nothing more than a software company. Failure to hit a homerun on their first attempt could end up doing little more than alienating competing companies who just recently adopted Android, and now find themselves in a head to head battle with the OS maker itself.
Leaked Photos on Twitter and a January 2010 release date are pretty convincing evidence of the phones existence, but Google has yet to come out formally to confirm or deny the exact specs. I hate to drag out a tired old metaphor, but is the iPhone killer finally here?
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fullur
December 14, 2009 at 8:47pm
@ nekolix:
Yes, but are you using a "smartphone"? On ATT I can get unlimited data for $10 a month because I have unlimited texting, but if I switch to a "smartphone" I have to by a minimum $30 plan regardless of what else I have.
nekollx
December 15, 2009 at 10:16am
[Justin Long]I dunno is the Instinct a Smartphone?[/Justin Long]
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mesiah
December 14, 2009 at 11:43pm
Yes, he is quoting smartphone rates. ATTs rates only rate behind verizon when it comes to ridiculous fees for data and other features. Sprint on the other hand is a bargain, and unlike ATT and verizon they don't differentiate between a regular phone and a "smart" phone. Unlimited data is unlimited data no matter what device you are using. I have a sprint family plan that includes 2 lines, 1500 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited texting, sprint navigation, sprint tv, and all the other bells and whistles for $129 a month. That same plan with verizon would cost over $200 a month. Sprint used to have poor customer service back in the day, so I left them and went to verizon. But in the past 6 years sprints customer service has improved by leaps and bounds and verizons has went in the oposite direction. Although sprint can't beat verizons network, they pummel their rates into the ground. Anyone looking for a new phone should seriously consider sprint. Especially now that they have a full line of android phones as well as the palm pre and several blackberry selections. I may sound like a sprint sales person, but I'm just someone who has spent the last 3 months researching phones and phone companies just waiting for my verizon contract to end.
suckyn00b
December 14, 2009 at 5:11am
I thought the same thing walnut, then I finally "bit the bullet" and bought a crackberry, and it lives up to its name! I hated to think I was spending $75/month for data and voice, but now I don't know what I would do without it!
I travel a lot for work, and its nice being able to search for something on the run, restaurants, movie times, phone numbers, addresses.....I can't imagine not having one now!
Walnut
December 13, 2009 at 7:14pm
The main thing holding me back from getting a smart phone is the price of reasonable data plans. I'm getting along fine without one right now, and so justifying doubling my phone bill is pretty tough. Unless Google can do something about that, I'll probably hold off.
nekollx
December 14, 2009 at 9:59am
i use sprint, for about $15 bucks more then i paid for my phone onlyplan i get unlimited data...not bad for $70 mo
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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