Here are some updates from the Google Nexus One press event:
Google is part of the open handset alliance (OHA) and working with 33 industry leaders, the Android platform is available on 20 devices across 59 carriers in 48 countries and 19 languages.
Nexus One Features:
3.7 inch OLED display – WVGA
1 GHz processor – fast processor
Trackball works as notifications tool. Will pulse when you get new messages.
130 grams – 11.5mm thick
Sensors: light sensor, proximity sensor.
5 megapixel camera
New for Android: active noise cancellation – using two microphones.
Android 2.1 Operating System
Voice Commands
Google will sell Nexus One through its own store without a contract, and through partners with a contract; for now T-Mobile is the only partner.
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Q/A On the Nexus One:
Question: Why only small space for app storage?
Answer: soon you will be able to store apps on SD cards
Question: Will it ship today?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Is this an iPhone killer?
Answer: Choice is a good thing.
Question: Whose inventory will the phone come from? What will you do to make the App Store more well-known?
Answer: Unlocked phone comes from Google. Regarding the Android Market: Marketing for Nexus One and new Web Store will be essentially online. Focused on making the store better.
Question: Why was it necessary for Google to design the phone? Why not just have an HTC phone that runs Android?
Answer: Google didn’t design the phone – HTC did. Google is just the retailer and worked mostly on the software.
Question: What would convince somebody to buy a $530 phone?
Answer: That’s choice at work. “This is the early stages of a longer journey.”
Question: Google isn’t known for being a retailer.
Answer: “We shouldn’t focus on retailing.” Google wants to offer a complete solution and give consumers choice. Retail part is very important but just another channel – not a channel that will replace other channels.
Question: What’s the revenue opportunity for Google?
Answer: These super-phones are great for accessing the Internet and that’s where out business is. Hardware sales are not the big deal – just wants to get more people on the mobile web. “If you want the best possible Google experience you come to the store and get the device.”
Question: Will it support tethering?
Answer: In future versions. Not a strategic issue but just something Google needs to implement.
Question: Is the physical keyboard dead? Will Google start to sell more products online?
Answer (from HTC): We offer lots of different phones and people can choose what best fits for them. This design is focused on the form-factor and screen. HTC offers other devices for “keyboard-lovers”. From Google: The new voice input works very well and Google will soon offer other devices as well.
Question: Will other counties support multi-touch on the Nexus One?
Answer: It’s a software thing. “We’ll consider it.”
Question: When will Google Voice launch publicly? What about the other phones that are coming soon? Will something else come next month?
Answer: Other manufacturers will add more devices. “If you need a great phone today – the Nexus is a great phone.”
Question: Google wants to do revolutionary stuff? What’s revolutionary about this phone? Why does Google get behind this phone if it’s pretty average? What not revolutionize the pricing structure with an ad-supported phone?
Answer: This is a baby step. Let’s get the store going and then we can see what comes up in the future.
Question: Will people be able to check out the phone in retail store?
Answer: We want this to remain pure and simple. Marketing this online-only and selling online-only.
Question: What’s the difference between a super-phone and a regular smartphone?
Answer: The big differentiator is the openness of the app store. This is as powerful as your laptop was a year ago.
Question: Question for Motorola: Will the Nexus One cannibalize sales of the Droid?
Answer: We try to deliver the best product we can. Will upgrade software on the Droid.
Question: Why does Google feel the need to change the way phones are bought? What’s broken about the system?
Answer: We are trying to optimize efficiencies. Just like web store revolutionized the way you buy a camera, Google wants to do the same thing for phones. After there are enough phones out there, you can experience it through using somebody else’s. Marketing just increases prices.
Question: What can users expect in terms of software upgrades? Users never really know what phone will get the upgrade
Answer: HTC wants to upgrade all of its phones (nothing specific). Google argues that some phones simply don’t have the hardware capabilities for the upgrade. The intention is to make sure everybody gets some kind of future-proof hardware that can get upgrades for a certain amount of time. From Motorola: Intention to upgrade the device to the best software that the hardware can run. Not every device supports the 3D capabilities of Android 2.1, for example. Backward compatibility slows down innovation.
Questions: Will Verizon get unlocked phones?
Answer: Unlocked phones are a problem with CDMA phones. Will only be sold with Verizon plan.
Question: Will you port Google Voice to the iPhone or will you suppress this to give Android an advantage?
Answer: Google Voice team isn’t opposed to having its app run on other platforms.
Question: Didn’t Google say it won’t do a phone?
Answer: We don’t do hardware.
Source: ReadWriteRead
