"Nexus One" Is Google's Android Phone 233
xchg writes "It's still not called the 'Google Phone,' but the Nexus One — to be made by HTC — is as close as I think we're going to get. The WSJ cites sources familiar with Google's plans and says that Google has designed this handset and plans to sell it directly to consumers, unlocked."
Re:What's the big deal? (Score:5, Interesting)
At least that's what I'm hoping, because on the few occasions I've tried Android without Sense it's been nearly unusable. HTC did an absolutely brilliant job with the Hero given how poor the stock experience is.
Re:They have me sold! (Score:3, Interesting)
Depends - theres a very good chance this will be GSM only which will mean that on CDMA networks (ie, Verizon) you may be stuck with other offerings.
The HTC Droid Passion is CDMA though and supposed to be out soon(-ish). I'm waiting for that instead of the Droid. If I wait more than 3 more months I'll likely get the Droid Eris instead (I kinda like the Eris more than the Moto Droid - I just don't like the swing-out keyboards. seems to prone to break).
Re:What's the big deal? (Score:4, Interesting)
True, no phone currently runs Android 2.1, but will that be true if and when the Nexus launches? And even if the Nexus is the 1st Android 2.1 phone, Google and their partners generally role out new version updates to the rest of Android phones within a couple months.
As for the hope that the Nexus spells the end of the fragmented Android UI, I think that it's misplaced. HTC recently showed off their 2010 roadmap [engadget.com], and there are a lot of Sense UI Android phones on it, including a couple running Snapdragon.
What will REALLY be big news... (Score:5, Interesting)
What will really be big news is when someone (probably Google or Apple) introduces a phone with something like the Gobi chip [qualcomm.com], now being used in some netbooks. It's a "carrier-neutral" chip, so you can activate the device on whatever carrier you like - GSM or CDMA.
The only reason people buy phones from carriers is to get financing (which is what carriers' phone subsidies really are - rolling the payments into your plan and sneakily continuing them forever). If people are willing to pay up front, or if the manufacturer will finance the handset, you can buy a phone and pick your own carrier, or even activate the same device on multiple carriers. This would be a real game-changer, and would push the carriers further towards being dumb pipes.
I think this would be ideal: make carriers compete on network quality alone, and make handset makers compete cross-carrier on handset quality alone.
Re:Clash of the Titans (Score:5, Interesting)
I actually bought Skype minutes because of the N900. And I have a Gizmo5 account that I just entered the details of into the N900's built in SIP stack. So when I want to make a call, I get to choose from GSM, Skype, Gizmo5. Also, when I am online, and some one with Google Talk or Skype wants to call me from their computer, it just rings and acts like is was any other cell call. There is so so so much more.
I can see US carriers shaking with rage over people's abilities to buy an N900, then go to T-Mobile and get an unlimited voice, text, data plan with no contract for 80 bux a month.
The N900 only works with T-Mobiles 3G system in the US. 2G from anyone.
Re:I'm so glad I bought a Droid (Score:1, Interesting)
Better question: Why does my bill go up when I'm done paying off the phone?
Yes when you leave contract AT&T charges more. That's my primary problem with getting a phone elsewhere I have to pay the higher bill for the phone and for the service. I've talked to customer service about two years ago because the store was refusing to give me a new phone and my bill was getting really high; they flat admitted I would be better of switching carriers. It took 5 phone calls to get a rep who put a note in saying to give me a new phone since I was out of contract.
Offtopic: After the past two years, just stay away from AT&T. Two correct bills in 22 months; its just not worth it. Usually I can get a credit for amounts > $10, but the 4+ hours argueing just isn't worth it.
Re:I'm so glad I bought a Droid (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't know why these phones are so expensive.
Because very few people who buy the product actually pay that price (your carrier doesn't pay retail for your phone), market forces won't drive it down. It's the same reason hotels in fancy casinos charge 4x the usual rate. Book with a travel agent, or a tour group, or through your loyalty card, and you get a much more sane rate. The dummy rate is just there to fleece the few people who will actually pay it.