Google unveils own-brand 'superphone'

As expected, Google yesterday (5 Jan 2010) unveiled its own-brand ‘Nexus One’ touchscreen smartphone based on its Android 2.1 operating system. Manufactured by Taiwan’s HTC and powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset and HSPA technology, Google went heavy on the hype during the launch at its Mountain View headquarters in California. "The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago,” claimed Andy Rubin, Google’s VP of Engineering. The Internet giant also claims to be offering “a new way for consumers to purchase an Android mobile phone,” via the creation of its own portal through which people can get the device tied to one of several mobile operators or untethered direct from Google. Nexus One can be bought ‘unlocked’ from the Google web store for US$529, or for US$179 if consumers are prepared to sign up to a two-year contract with T-Mobile USA.
Verizon Wireless in the US, and Vodafone’s European operations, plan to support the device from Spring 2010 via the store. Google is only initially taking orders on the store from consumers in the US, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. “In the coming months Google plans on partnering with additional operators, offering consumers access to a broad set of service plans,” noted the company in a statement. “In the future we expect to launch more phones with Android handset partners and to expand the web store to more countries.”
Google’s move is significant as it marks the first time the company has designed and sold its own consumer hardware device. It is being perceived by industry analysts as a way for the company to defend its online advertising empire as more and more people access the Internet using a smartphone. To date Google has worked with handset vendors (such as Motorola, HTC and Samsung) and operators (for example, Verizon) on integrating the Android software platform into the mobile ecosystem. Mario Queiroz, Google vice president for product management, described the unveiling of Nexus One as "the next stage in the evolution of Android". Mr Queiroz said there were now more than 20 Android phones available from 59 operators in 48 countries. Analysts noted that the device – which resembles the iPhone – may be the strongest competitor yet to Apple’s iconic device. "This is a software company frustrated with making compromises with hardware manufacturers, that has taken the product bull by the horns,” TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington told the BBC. “When combined with Google Voice, there is no phone on the market today that can touch the Nexus One." Google has also voice-enabled all text boxes on the device, which means that users can put together an e-mail message or tweet by speaking into the phone rather than typing text on the touchscreen.


source: GSMA MBB