The rumours about a Google branded phone have been circulating ever since Google’s mobile operating system, Android, was first announced. These rumours were given a little more credence over the weekend however; when it emerged that Google employees were given new Android based handsets to use.
These new mobile handsets, which have been dubbed the ‘Nexus One’, are being manufactured by HTC (currently the most prominent phone manufacturer to be pushing Google Android). If the rumours are to be believed (and as the hours pass more and more evidence is emerging to suggest they are accurate) the mobile phone will eschew tradition and be sold direct to customers online, rather than through the established mobile networks. This is a bold move and one which, on the surface, is definitely appealing to consumers like me who have held off on purchasing an iPhone not because of the device but because they don’t want to be tied to an 18 month or 2 year contract.
Early reports about the device are strikingly positive (although they are primarily be emanating from Google employees and as such need to be taken with a pinch of salt) with the phone being referred to as an “iPhone on steroids”. It certainly borrows a lot from the iPhone aesthetically (as can be seen through some leaked photos on engadget) and the Android operating system is full of potential, with application market would hopefully be exploited fully by homebrew developers were the handset to take off.
The major question mark hanging over the potential success of the device is the price. It is well known that the network providers subsidise the price of the handsets and the worry is that Google could end up pricing themselves out of the contest.
So what do you think about Google entering the mobile phone space with a new piece of hardware? Is it a wise move to try and cut out the mobile networks or will it ultimately backfire if the handset is unable to be priced competitively? Should Google simply focus on search and leave the mobile space alone?
- Google Docs Uploads Hint at How GDrive Could Function - January 13, 2010
- Just Google It! - January 12, 2010
- Could Google Sell Advertising Space in Streetview? - January 11, 2010
- Chrome Extensions Now Available For Mac Users - January 8, 2010
- London To Launch The UK’s First Online Datastore - January 7, 2010
- Chrome Replaces Safari as the Third Most Popular Browser - January 6, 2010
- Facebook Looks to Improve Usability With the New and Improved Help Center - December 29, 2009
- Is Google Synonym Searching On the Horizon? - December 23, 2009
- Facebook introduce Memology to Track the Years Most Popular Topics and Trends - December 22, 2009
- The Rising Success of the New SEO Blog from Cozy Digital - December 21, 2009
You may also be interested in:
- Mad is the Japanese Phone Market The functions are strong with this one... ...
- Google Nexus One Phone Lands In April? Will you be gazing lovingly at a Google Nexus One Phone in April? Word on the street says... Read The...
- Advanced Preview of iPhone and Android Rival – Windows Phone 7 OS Look at a comparison between iPhone and Windows Phone 7 and see which you think is better? Or do you...
- Want A Google Account? You May Need Your Mobile Phone Handy. If you are looking to create a Google Account then you may be asked to supply a mobile phone number....
- Was Nexus One Just a Google style Android Launch Vehicle? Eric Schmidt talks Android and the Nexus One's future. ...
Cozy Digital is an