Gizmodo has passed along some information from a tipster. First of all, Google will refer to the phone as the Nexus One rather than the Google Phone.The device will cost $529.99 unsubsidized and with a 2-year contract the price is reportedly $179.99. The monthly total for voice, text & web with T-Mobile will be $79.99. These details have shattered the dreams of optimistic consumers hoping for an affordable unlocked and contract-free device. For more visit Gizmodo.
Several bloggers are reporting invitations were emailed for an Android announcement January 5. The press conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. (1:00 p.m. est) in Mountain View. This is widely presumed to be the Nexus One unveling. We here at Tech Junkie will blogging the details as they emerge.
Consumer rebellion against Apple's iPhone seems to be powering the buzz. Apple's decision to banish the Google Voice app and limiting the functionality of streaming video apps incited criticism.
AT&T has all, but sabotaged itself and Apple. AT&T was slow to deliver MMS and has yet to deliver on its promise of tethering. Then AT&T more or less admitted its network is subpar, but later tried to transfer blame to the iPhone and its users. AT&T claimed their network woes stemmed from iPhone users not having an understanding of a megabyte and then later pointed the finger at the device by suggesting a poor design was at fault. Many consumers have resisted the iPhone because of AT&T's poor network reputation and higher priced data plan.
Verizon's advertising leapt on these issues during its marketing blitz for the Droid. The device has been praised, but has been relegated overall as the second best smartphone on the best network. It has sold, but has not captured the hearts and wallets of wireless users like the iPhone did. It will be interesting to watch Google and T-Mobile's marketing strategy.
The sum of the details on Google's Nexus One total to what should be a worthy competitor, but I have not seen anything that makes it an iPhone killer...yet. Official specifications have not been released, but here is a list of anticipated details: GSM bandwidth, a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, accelerometer and compass.
Matthew Fortner has been at The News & Observer since 2002. He has a passion for gadgets, cutting-edge technology and all things geek.
Comments
@jlblackm- I mostly agree.
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 10:14 — matthewfortner (author)@jlblackm- I mostly agree. While some of the other devices offer some better or missing features, they have yet to push beyond the wake of the iPhone. The Droid has a nice display and a hardware keyboard as does Nokia's N900. The N900 looks to be a powerful mobile browsing beast, but its app support is weak. I'm a big fan of Maemo. I have TWO Maemo tablets from Nokia. I suspect a lower priced ($99?) 8GB 3Gs will be more tempting to consumers. No smartphone handles media as well as the iPhone.
I love to see a competing device stoke the fires at the Apple laboratories.
iPhone killer?
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 00:28 — jlblackmIf you hold your breath waiting for one, you're doomed. All the phones that purport to be competitive with the iPhone are speced the same as current and prior generation iPhones with glaring deficiencies. No one is "skating to where the puck's gonna be." Add that to the scroogish hardware specs of all competitors, the fact that they don't have the raft of third party hardware and software support the iPhone platform enjoys and the fact that their kit just isn't anywhere as close to as polished as the iPhone, and they haven't got a prayer.
Good enough is fine in the PC world where PCs can be had a half the price of Macs. It aint good enough when the state-of-the-art iPhone starts at $99. I can spend ~$600 and get an unlocked iPhone 3GS, or I can get an unlocked droid knockoff with a battery door that has to be taped in place.
Case closed.