As expected, Google announced the availability of its Nexus One smartphone. It is obviously targeted at Apple’s iPhone 3GS as the features and specifications are very close to one another. So are the looks. Other than Motorola’s Droid, it probably comes closest to the iPhone in content and capability. Now to see how it does sales-wise.
With regard to technical details, Google worked with HTC who did the hardware design. The Nexus One uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1 GHz processor and has 512 MB flash, 512 MB RAM and a 4 GB Micro SD Card. The screen is a 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen. The resolution is an amazing 800 x 480 pixels which is better than Apple’s screen and anyone else’s as well. The operating system is Google’s Android Mobile ver. 2.1.
The Nexus operates on the 900/AWS/2100 MHz bands and is a GSM/UMTS WCDMA phone that works in the usual quad bands as well. It also incorporates HSDPA 7.2 Mb/s 3G capability. Other wireless features include Wi-Fi 11b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 including stereo. Also included is an assisted GPS receiver, a compass and an accelerometer. A 5 Megapixel camera with zoom and LED flash and video capability is also there. And it should go without saying that Google Gmail, Voice and Maps/Navigation is standard.
As for service and plans, initially the US service is with T-Mobile. A 2-year contract is standard. Price of the phone with T-Mobile contract is $179. A fully unlocked phone sells for $529. It is said that the phone won’t work on AT&T 3G networks but I could not confirm that. A new version of the Nexus One for the cdma2000 3G networks should be available via Verizon in the spring. For more details, go to www.google.com/phone.
How will the Nexus One sell? My guess it will be a big hit. I doubt that it will knock the Apple iPhone out of first place in the smartphone listings but it could come close and it will certainly give Motorola’s Droid, the Palm Pre, Nokia N97/N900 and others a real fit. Some of that success will rely on a huge apps effort, but that is already underway.