Google’s Nexus One Sales Model Isn’t Quite the Barrier Buster
By George Thiruva
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In the days preceding the release of the Google Nexus One (a.k.a. The long awaited gPhone), the talk of the web was that Google was going to break down some sort of Berlin Wall in the way the phone was sold. Whereas most phones are sold by the wireless carriers in conjunction with a 2 Year jail sentence and are locked to that carrier, Google was (and did) sell the phone both direct to customers, unlocked to a carrier, and without the need to put handcuffs on.
Q. But did it really accomplish that result?
A. Sort of.
Q. Did it shake things up and change the way wireless phones are (and will be) sold?
A. Hopefully, but probably not.
Q. Did the company that pledges to "Do No Evil" really free customers from the tyranny of the wireless carrier oligopoly?
A. Doesn't seem that way.
Let's take a look at Google's cell phone math and see how things really turned out ...
Categories: Consumer Issues, Handhelds/Smartphones Tags: android, google, gsm, nexus one, smartphone, t-mobile
Overlooked at CES: Femtocells – Marketing Opportunity Missed
When I went to CES last week, I went with some colleagues and we went our separate ways. We expected to be able to call/text each other at later times to meet up for lunch and other events. Seems like a simple enough idea. But it was doomed to fail.
You might have heard about AT&T's CES meltdown. Well, it turns out all of my colleagues were using iPhones on AT&T. Apparently, AT&T's cell towers within proximity of the convention center were just overwhelmed. I didn't hear too many complaints from users of other networks.
But at least for those disgruntled AT&T customers, Femtocells could have saved the day ...
Categories: Cell Phone Equipment Tags: 2g, 3g, 4g, cdma, cell phone, cell service, femtocell, gsm
