“Google on Saturday announced that its internal developers are using a new Android-powered phone that many Web sites have dubbed ‘Nexus One’ from its Internet browser identification string, but which many reports say is a variant of HTC’s HD2 phone,” Sascha Segan writes for PC Magazine.
“The nearly hysterical frothing about the ‘Google Phone’ overlooks a whole bunch of existing facts,” Segan writes. “The T-Mobile G1, after all, was a phone whose software was dictated by Google; it was a ‘Google Phone.’ Google has already sold two phones online, unlocked, to developers – the Android Dev Phone 1 (a G1 clone) and the Google Ion (also known as the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G.)”
Segan writes, “The barbaric yawp of desire from Twitter for the ‘Google Phone’ really comes down to another hot, trending Twitter topic last week – something called #attfail. The idea that gets everyone hot under the collar is that Google may sell a phone directly, magically compatible with all U.S. carriers, but somehow without the restrictions and bindings that U.S. carriers place on devices.”
Segan writes, “What this desire really comes from, of course, is Americans’ desperate wish (and it is all about Americans; the rest of the world doesn’t have this problem) to see the iPhone on a carrier other than AT&T.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The endless hype and overwrought excitement over each successive “iPhone killer” has always cast a rosy glow over Apple iPhone’s future. Such rabid anticipation isn’t for whichever device is being anointed “iPhone killer” this month, nor is it anti-Apple sentiment in any meaningful amount, it really comes from people who lust after iPhone, but are stuck on iPhone-less carriers. Every time you see an article or hear someone talking up an “iPhone killer,” it’s an expression of iPhone lust. As we’ve seen in other countries where Apple has taken iPhone to multiple carriers, the constant “hysterical frothing” over LG Voyager, HTC Touch, BlackBerry Bold, Samsung Omnia, BlackBerry Storm, Motorola Droid, “Google Phone” really signifies that there is much pent up demand ready to be tapped by Apple when they feel the time is right to make their next move.
Dont’ confuse me with the facts!
This insight may be correct, but realistically I am not sure that any other carrier is actually better than AT&T;. I think it would serve us all better to have a new carrier from Apple or someone. And specifically I would prefer a better cloud based internet connection and a VOIP based phone. All of which Apple could provide, if it wished.
how can anything be an iPhone killer that sells less in its first year than the difference between this current quarter and last quarter’s iphone sales.
The iPhone is just getting started and the trend line is steepening. Start thinking Hertz and AVIS. iPhone is going to seal the deal as #1 and RIM and google are going to slug it out for the #2 spot. The second moto gets its head out of its arse and advertises DROID versus Blackberry, it will see a huge increase in sales. Versus iPhone just sells more iPhones.
Can’t you already get skype on iPhone and use it over wifi? Of course, no company will allow you to easily circumvent their per-minute charges using VOIP on their network, or how could they afford the huge cost of building ther network?
My note was addressed to aking.
@aking:
The costs of building out a new network is far too much for Apple to take on. The technology changes too quickly, and the revenue from one device on the network (iPhone) simply wouldn’t be enough to justify the costs.
And how are you going to get a cloud-based internet connection without a mobile network? You’re not. VOIP isn’t the answer; it’s a stopgap service until other motile technologies become better developed. VOIP has too many problems of its own, first of which is relying upon multiple service providers for bandwidth requirements.
This reminds me of something…
An undeniable fact: Had Verizon accepted Apple’s offer of the iPhone, it–TOO–would now be as underwater and loathed (by many) as is ATT.
No carrier in the US was (is?) ready for the technological demands of the iPhone. Gawd help ATT when iPhone OS 4.0 comes out!
What I’m curious about is whether Google believes it can sell a phone that is not officially blessed by the telcos. Palm/Handspring tried this unsuccessfully years ago, and finally had to grab its collective ankles. Verizon in particular puts up many barriers to using phones that are not sold through them. It took Apple forging a unique deal to break the chokehold that the telcos have on handset makers. And much as Apple’s hardware competitors are loathe to admit it, if not for Apple, the smartphone marketplace would have continued to be Cro Magnon.
Then again, Google prompted the spectrum auction late last year / early this year in an attempt to force the telcos to compete for a new FCC frequency formerly used by analog television. The idea, as I understood it to be, is that it is a bandwidth that could be used with greater strength and range than WiFi, and be a better signal than current cell signals today. But cell carriers are less interested in progress and more interested in control of their fiefdoms. Which leads me back to my original question: how does Google think that an unsubsidized handset will be allowed and accepted by the warlord cell carriers? And how could it compete on price? (Yes, I know: consumers pay back the low cost of the phone over the life of the contract, with interest. But do they understand that?)
Stay tuned.
I hear this at&t;crap all the time. As a Canadian using a 3GS with Rogers I have great service. No Dropped calls. 7 ish Mbits per sec for data. 6 Gigs a month, not unlimited but with at&a;whining about usage…..
For the whole world the iPhone is a bit better than the USA iPhone….
But it isn’t. it’s just one carrier vs another.
@aking:
This isn’t just about AT&T;’s lousy network. Millions of potential iPhone customers are trapped in contracts with other mobile providers thanks to the odious, industry-wide practice (in the U.S. at least) of holding customers hostage for two years at a stretch.
Right on. Just talked to a friend who needs a new phone and wants the iPhone but for various reasons is stuck on Verizon with extended family. I told her to skip the Droid and wait another couple of months to see what shakes out the latest G-phone rumor.
I don’t know if the MDN Take left the Palm Pre out on purpose (on the strikeouts), but it did make me laugh
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
But does iPhone work on other carriers? I mean properly? Here in Australia we have a single, government-mandated, standard. (Three cheers for regulation!) and the iPhone works on every carrier, even if 3G coverage varies between carriers (Australia is the same geographic area as contintental USA but we only have 20million people, living mostly on the eastern seaboard). I understand that, on Verizon, the iPhone can’t receive data and voice at the same time, or did I misunderstand the AT&T;ads?
“how does Google think that an unsubsidized handset will be allowed and accepted by the warlord cell carriers?”
Verizon and AT&T both have a “bring your own phone” plan. Needless to say, they don’t publicize it much.
It’s mostly sticker shock. “Wait…I have to pay $599 for a Google phone but only $199 for an iPhone? Guess I know where I’m going…”
GhoneAds launch announced by goog!
A phone supported totally by advertisements (just like a newspaper)!
In honor of the trend of blended naming schema, the “g” from google has been blended with “hone” from the word “phone” an the word “Ad” in honor of the time tested advertisement supported news industry!
Let us offer a hearty welcome to
drum roll please
GhoneAds
IA phone supported totally by advertisements (just like a newspaper)!
In honor of the trend of blended naming schema, the “g” from google has been blended with “hone” from the word “phone” an the word “Ad” in honor of the time tested advertisement supported news industry!
Let us offer a hearty welcome to
drum roll please
GhoneAds!
In response to questions, a company spokesperson conformed (?sp) that gOOn and gOOne had both been rejected as alternate names because market testing had shown the pronunciation hoped for by Schmidt, Page, and Brin had to be explained to every one of the participants of the studies with the phrase “sounds like cone” and it was concluded the cost to change the pronunciation throughout the English speaking world via advertising would be prohibitive.
Any suggestions to improve the iphone?
Go to http://www.pleasefixtheiphone.com
“…it really comes from people who lust after iPhone, but are stuck on iPhone-less carriers.”
No. It really comes from people who are sick of any phone locked into 2 year contracts in order to use them, whether those phones are made by Apple or Google is insignificant. I for one am tired of bowing down to shit*y networks and being raped in the a*s. No doubt the NEXUSONE will be the shiznits, as is the iPhone, but what will really make it soar is if it is sold unlocked for a sane price.
Matt
Can’t you pay full retail and avoid the two year contract? That might work for you.
@byronic
The iPhone doesn’t work on Verizon at all, different technology. In the US, we don’t have a standard cell coding format, we used to have four, now down mostly to two, GSM and CDMA.
Verizon DOES have an issue in that their CDMA implementation cannot do voice and data at the same time.
Hopefully when 4G is fully implemented, the US will have just one format, LTE. Meanwhile, the rest of the world will be in transition from GSM to LTE. It will take awhile.
“Segan writes, “What this desire really comes from, of course, is Americans’ desperate wish (and it is all about Americans; the rest of the world doesn’t have this problem) to see the iPhone on a carrier other than AT&T;.”
Everyone of this mind should be careful that they don’t get what they wish for, other wise they might get it. Then they’d see just how bad things can really get.
The point about iPhone lust may be true, but it doesn’t change the facts. I would love to have an iPhone, but is simply unusable in my area. In fact, using ANY AT&T;phone in this area for long will result in a service termination. (Yes, it’s an actual policy of theirs; applies to all coverage areas serviced through third party towers.) So … to get anything better than a bare-bones cell phone, I will be forced to choose between one of the other contenders. At the moment, Android looks the most flexible. But … I haven’t decided whether cell phone + iPod touch (what I have) is really all that inferior to some super phone + iPod touch.
I’m actually hoping Google announces that they are going to be a free provider. That would be awesome.
With all due respect, the first iPhone was unsubsidized, it was highly criticized for it’s price (remember $499 and $599?). The iPhone didn’t REALLY start selling until the 3G came out. I’m almost certain that this Google phone will cost just as much if it isn’t subsidized exclusively by one carrier. It will be the phone that does everything the iPhone can for triple the price. In these times, I think people are far more willing to tether to a carrier than to pay $500-600 for a phone that’s no more capable than a phone for $100-300. Sorry Google, nice try. Better luck next time.
If you really want to beat the iPhone, you have to beat iTunes and Apple’s clever software first. Stop making Swiss Army knife cellphones full of features nobody can use effectively and start making tools that help people. After all your testing, ask yourself, would anybody be proud of what this phone can do?
I don’t think all the brouhaha is about Americans suffering iPhone envy.
Part of if is the long-brewing issue Americans have with a freedom to get the phone they want, with the features they want, on the network they want.
If any of the business models touted as alternatives with the Google phone are true, and there’s a way to make a great phone affordable and available <u>and</u> unlocked, Americans will be very happy.
Wouldn’t it be great to pick your phone and your carrier separately?
A lot of Europe can get any phone they want on sale in their nation with whatever carrier they want. In Spain, people jump phones and carriers all the time.
I think the idea of Google subsidizing the cost of phones through ads is an illusion at this point. But what’s exciting is if they piggy back with T-mobile for the Everything Plus plans where people don’t buy the phone subsidized, but are able to walk out the door with a phone they can pay for through financing closer to the true cost of the phone rather than paying more with contracts and subsidies.
In the USA, the big trouble with completely agnostic phones is the difference in networks, but maybe this will lay the ground work for when all networks are on LTE in the future.