Whenever news breaks of a new device by a big player, it’s all the rage. Across the internet, we’ve seen blog after blog publish editorials on how Google’s Nexus One is about to change everything. Recently CrunchGear, Gizmodo, and countless other blogs have created posts crying out that this Google phone is about to change everything. Before everyone gets carried away, we need to step back, pause, and see how this is going to affect more than just the tech enthusiasts. While it may change a few aspects of the market, it’s a stretch to suggest that this phone will radically change the industry.
Like other Android phones before this, we’ve seen manufacturers like Motorola and HTC build the hardware and power the devices through Google’s mobile OS. Nexus One isn’t the first device to be collaboration between Google and the handset maker. The Motorola Droid and HTC Dream were also developed with feedback from Google. Sources are saying that Google’s hardware grip on Nexus One is much tighter than ever before, but how much does this really matter? I don’t know at what point a company crosses the line from being an influencer to the device being branded as their own.
Google’s rumored to be selling Nexus One online and possibly through retailers like Best Buy, not the carriers themselves. The device will be sold unlocked, therefore without upfront carrier subsidies. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen phone’s being sold unlocked (it’s mandatory in some European countries). Google could be willing to subsidize the device themselves, hoping to get more users into the Android Market. The fact that the vendor of the device itself would foot part of the bill could be the biggest transformation Nexus One has on the industry. It’s not something we’ve seen before. Other than the device’s subsidy, it’s going to be a bigger change for Google than the industry.
Whatever’s to come of Nexus One, Google’s doing a great job generating hype. They’ve let it be known that the device exists but are keeping further details quiet. Android-branded handset viral marketing seems to becoming a trend. Are we going to see more Google phones as HTC rolls out their 2010 lineup? What affect do you think Nexus One is going to have on the industry as a whole? Will it live up to the hype we’re experiencing now? Let us know what you think Google’s got up their sleeve.
