In the latest in the Nexus One saga, Google and T-Mobile have made changes to the pricing policy for the controversial device. The companies are lowering the price of the Nexus One by $100 for some existing customers.
The new pricing paradigm means T-Mobile subscribers who are eligible can get the Nexus One for $279 instead of $379. Google has pledged to give refunds to T-Mobile customers who paid the higher price, though it is not clear whether that refund will come in the form of a T-Mobile billing credit or a gift card.
Like many other aspects of customer service surrounding the Nexus One, though, the eligibility requirements seem less than straightforward. In order to qualify for the lower price or the $100 refund, T-Mobile customers must be eligible for a “full grade” upgrade. That translates to at least 22 months since the customer’s last upgrade or new contract. The price cut is not available to family account plans or business users.
Google’s Mobile Hubris
“Google has had many issues with the Nexus One in terms of service and support, including users not being able to figure out who to contact and being unable to get a live person to deal with their support issues,” said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. “Then there’s the pricing debacle in terms of the existing T-Mobile customers who are the most likely customers to use the device. All this shows that getting into the consumer electronics business might be a little more difficult than Google might have thought.”
T-Mobile is offering the smartphone to new subscribers for $179 with a two-year contract and plenty of restrictions, including the offensive early-termination fee that made headlines earlier this week. With problem after problem, the Nexus One could tarnish what has been an otherwise fairly sterling reputation for Google….