Under the theme of Web Meets Phone, Google on Tuesday launched its long-awaited direct entry into the smartphone market with its Nexus One, a challenge to the many devices using its Android mobile platform. Taking advantage of one of the world’s most popular web addresses, Google began selling the Nexus One with a dedicated page offering 3-D tours, specs and the ability to order the phone and track the order.
The HTC-built device sells for $529.99 unlocked, meaning without a carrier, or $179.99 with a two-year T-Mobile plan. It will also be available later this year through Verizon Wireless and in Europe through Vodafone. Deals with other carriers are also expected.
At an event at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., Mario Queiroz, Google’s vice president of product management, said the Nexus One name is meant to imply a point of convergence.
“One question we asked ourselves some time ago was, what if we work even more closely with our partners to bring devices to market which are going to help us showcase quickly the great software technology we’re working on here at Google?” Queiroz was quoted as saying. “We’ve done just that.”
Interpret Vice President Michael Gartenberg said Google’s entry into consumer electronics is “a big deal. In addition, with the Google store we’ve learned that all Android devices might be equal, but some are more equal than others, as not every phone or vendor will be in Google’s store. In many ways, Google is now in position to control the customer, not the carrier, much as Apple did with the release of the iPhone.”
Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA – The Wireless Association, said the announcement was the next phase in a battle for “every single customer in this ecosystem, whether they’re network providers, device manufacturers, carriers and…